Glencadam 10 Year

Entry #51 - Whisk(e)y #35 Acquired a 50ml sample; the packaging was excellent with its small cylindrical container, costing 5 euros. Filtered cold - No Added Color - No Alcohol By Volume - 46% Appearance - quite pale - light straw in color. Leaves thick, extended streaks. Smell - citrus, vibrant, a touch of alcohol, rich, orchard fruit (red apples, pear), malt and sweetness emerge after airing. Taste - delicate, viscous, a rich initial sensation, quite sharp and young with spice, the same fresh orchard fruit as detected in the aroma. The spice and heat dissipate quickly, while a tingle remains. Aftertaste - moderate in length, notes of baked bread, herbs, and celery. Slightly harsh to my preference, but the richness is highly valued, as is the natural color. It improves noticeably with time, even from these small 50ml bottles. A few drops of water reveal honey and vanilla in the aroma, and lessen the sharpness on the palate. Scorecard: 5.0 - Ideal 4.5 - Outstanding 4.0 - Very Good 3.5 - Good 3.0 - Acceptable 2.5 - Ordinary 2.0 - Subpar 1.5 - Almost Undrinkable 1.0 - Undrinkable 0.5 - Unpleasant

Did a tasting with the '10', '15' and '21'. The '10' is obviously still rough around the edges, but has a pleasant fruity flavor profile that makes up for it. It has a nice citruszing to it. Very enjoyable. Good value for money. The '15' is spicier and leans much heavier into chocolate and caramel flavors after the extra maturation. Tasty, but a heavier taste. Maybe more for winter. It is smoother than the 10, but loses some of the fun, refreshing zing that the 10 has. The '21' went back a bit to some of the more fruity flavors. It tries to find balance in between the flavor profile of the '10' and '15'. Definitely nice and I prefer it to the '15', but at the higher price point and compared to other brands I'm not really convinced to add it to my cabinet. I really enjoy the '10'. It's the only one of the three that I want to add to my cabinet, based on enjoyment and price point.

Let me begin by stating that this whiskey is remarkably overlooked and underappreciated. The review published here is... nonsense! The only explanation I can conceive is that this establishment was inactive for a period. Perhaps the contents differ? Age: 10 years Nose: apple, vanilla, banana Palate: quite viscous at 46% ABV. You embark on an incredible flavor expedition that starts bright and citrusy like grapefruit, then transforms into apple vanilla cake, and concludes with unripe banana. Finish: That fruitiness is what lingers. Incredibly pleasant. I owe a local liquor manager for recommending this. It demonstrates that a superb whiskey doesn't need to be something scarce. This is a hidden gem. If you appreciate Irish whiskey, you will likely enjoy this. In fact, you might be ecstatic about it.

Glencadam might not be widely known, as most of its output is used in Ballantine's blends. The aroma offers fresh citrus, honeydew melon, and faint glue notes alongside thyme, vanilla, and canned pineapple. The taste is quite crisp and lively, revealing lemon juice, spearmint, and mild spices. Sweet and sour notes, green apples, and honey enhance the robust mouthfeel. The aftertaste persists with ginger, green banana, and a hint of dry oak. At ten years old, this malt, driven by the spirit and honest in its profile, doesn't need artificial wood finishes. RATING: 3.5/5.0 stars ≙ 84 pts → ABOVE AVERAGE

Aroma: Herbal, green, and floral. Red berries, sandalwood, vanilla, powdered sugar, soft stone fruit. Taste: Tart, green fruit, green/grassy, sweet vanilla. The most prominent flavor is the spice - black pepper and chili. Finish: A long finish. Spices - pepper and green chilies. Malty and spirited, but quite mild on the finish. This is easy to drink and highly craveable. This is a very spicy dram, with notes reminiscent of chai tea when mixed with the mild vanilla. I could enjoy a lot of this!

I'm revising my score to 4.75 because I detected something more complex on the second tasting. There's a distinct aroma of angel food cake, present both in smell and flavor. It's truly unique and quite pleasant. Adding water significantly aids in its openness; the flavor becomes more profound with a lovely savory sweetness and is also very aromatic. It's unfortunate the 15-year will no longer be available... I might repurchase another 10-year before it's gone.