Glencadam 15 Years Old The Rather Dignified

This is a fairly simple bottling which, however, is so well-made that it puts to shame many others which have a more complex cask composition. I always admire and enjoy it when a bottling does not need anything beyond ex-bourbons to be great, and this one definitely is.

On the nose, you can tell straight away that Glencadam used first-rate casks for this 15 year old malt, because carried by a honeyed smoothness, a freshly opened can of peaches is gently rising from my Glencairn, and less active or second-fill ex-bourbons simply do not develop sweet stone fruit or tropical aromas.

The oaky components take over on the palate, making Glencadam's equally great destillate shine a little more than the additive maturation from the casks does on the nose. Even though your taste buds are awash with sweet fir needles and mild oak spices, the peach, sadly, is far less prominent here, but the quality of the destillate easily makes up for it.

The finish is sweet and chocolatey, and although the oak spices linger, the malt never becomes unpleasantly tart. This is just a great scotch, it is very classic, very straight-forward and very well-made. If you want a bottling to show your friends how yummy a pure and simple ex-bourbon maturation without any bells and whistles can be, this baby should be a staple on your shelf.