Glencadam 18 Year Old, Bourbon Cask, 46%

silverrambler4 Oct

The 18-year-old Highland single malt has a clear, dessert-led character. Fresh stone fruits and pear blossom on the nose lead into baked peaches, rice pudding and lemon cream on the palate, with cinnamon and nutmeg adding warmth. Poached pear, gingerbread and apricot dessert carry that thread into the finish. The fruit-and-cream combination sounds appealing and coherent, with enough spice to keep it from feeling one-note. Its emphasis is on elegance and rounded sweetness rather than a more forceful character.

Glencadam 18 Year Old appeals to me most in the way its fruit and dessert notes work together. Fresh stone fruits and pear blossom on the nose give way to baked peaches and lemon cream/curd on the palate. Cinnamon and nutmeg add a welcome contrast to the creamy sweetness. The long finish, with poached pears and subtly sweet spice, is especially appealing for my taste. There is a strong dessert thread, from panna cotta through rice pudding and crème caramel, so I would favour this when looking for a rounded, sweet-leaning Highland single malt. What keeps it interesting is the change from fresh fruit to baked fruit and then gentle spice, rather than any one note on its own.

The pear character is especially appealing, from pear blossom on the nose to poached pears in the finish. Baked peaches and creamy notes give it a warm, rounded feel.