87 / 100
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.
Reviewed by maplewren
- Nose
- fresh stone fruits, pear blossom, dried pineapple, panna cotta, baking spices
- Palate
- creamy and full, baked peaches, rice pudding, lemon cream/curd, cinnamon, nutmeg
- Finish
- long and smooth, poached pears, gingerbread cookies/ginger biscuits, apricot dessert/Danish, subtly sweet spice