Whisky : Glencadam 9 Year SMWS 82.25 “Svelte and shapely”

Country/Region : Scotland/Highland

ABV : 63.1%

Cask : 2nd Fill Ex-Bourbon Barrel

Age : 9 Year (Distilled 16 Mar. 2011)

Nose : Citrus candies, grassy sweetness, and coconut.  Sugary candies leapt the fore with grape, lemon, and lime hard candies.  A grassy sweet undercurrent ran throughout as lush green grass, clovers, crushed sugarcane, and faint wildflowers came to mind.  Hints of chalk and chlorine peaked out between notes of coconut oil, sun lotion, and apple juice boxes.

Palate : Medium bodied and spirited with notes of fruity candies, apple juice, and grassy sweetness.  Hard candies, Jolly Ranchers in particular, started off with notes of green apple and purple grape flavors.  A mild minerality and chalkiness led into the grassy sugars of clover and crushed sugar cane.  A floral vanilla and the crispy fruit-floral dryness of white wine lingered on the back palate.  A few drops of water toned down the youthful heat and brought out spun sugar, black pepper, cinnamon, and a citrus that lingered through the end.

Finish : Lingering fruit flavored hard candies.

Score : 5

Mental Image : Jolly Rancher Grab Bag

Notes :  This was pleasant— simple, youthful, and quite sweet.  It was a bit hot for my taste, even with a few drops of water.  I did enjoy how the profile shifted when water was added.  This Glencadam had an almost white wine character to it as crisp fruits and a floral dryness ran throughout the nose and the palate.  I am not a big white wine drinker, but I suspect those who enjoy a glass might find a bit more to like here.

Overall, Glencadam is not a distillery one comes across all that often, so I was happy to have a chance to try this.  I actually picked up a bottle of a sister cask (SMWS 82.28), which I rate a couple notches a bit higher— it is generally less sweet and leans more heavily into some of the chalky and grassy notes.  I found this one to be pleasant and interesting, but too hot and sweet for my taste.  I thought the bottle did well with water and, though I did not try it, I have a feeling this would be pleasant on the rocks.