Glencadam Reserva Andalucia Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky 70 cl 46%

The name points to Andalucía, where the sherry comes from. It is one of the few places in the world where casks are still produced specifically for the whisky industry, and Glencadam has brought oloroso from there to finish this release.

The expert's description

Glencadam Reserva Andalucia is a Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky built from sherry and bourbon casks with a finishing period in oloroso casks from Andalucía, bottled at 46%.

The build is different from the other finish releases. Here sherry casks are selected from the Glencadam warehouses and married with bourbon casks before the whole batch gets its finishing period in oloroso. That gives a more thoroughgoing sherry character than a straight finish would. The whisky is non-chill filtered and carries natural colour.

Oloroso is the dry sherry type. It matures in contact with air and develops nuts, dried fruit and a firm bitterness rather than the syrupy sweetness of PX. On the fruity Glencadam spirit that gives a balance between the brightness of the house and the depth of the sherry.

Tasting notes

Nose

Rich sherry with sultanas and sweet spice, over a base note of bright Glencadam fruit. There are nuts and dried apricot behind.

Palate

Full and sherry-forward. Dried fruit, nuts and spice, with the distillery fruitiness as a counterweight. The balance between the two is the whole point of the release.

Finish

Medium to long. Nuts and dried fruit ebbing away into a dry, lightly spiced close.

Specifications

Name: Glencadam Reserva Andalucia Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky 70 cl 46%
Distillery: Glencadam
Region/Country: Highland, Scotland
Type: Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky
ABV: 46%
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: Sherry and bourbon casks with a finishing period in oloroso casks from Andalucía
Non-chill filtered: Yes
Natural colour: Yes
Edition: Reserva Andalucia
EAN no.: 5021349704126

Flavour profile

Sherried · Nutty · Dried fruit · Spiced · Fruity

Did you know?

Glencadam sits in the Eastern Highlands, a part of Scotland that once held a string of distilleries but has very few left today. The other distillery in Brechin, North Port, closed in 1983 and was demolished.

See our full range of Glencadam

Frequently asked questions about Glencadam Reserva Andalucia

What does Reserva Andalucia mean?

The name refers to Andalucía in southern Spain, where the sherry and therefore the sherry casks come from. The release is intended as a nod to the connection between Glencadam and the Spanish bodegas that supply the casks.

How does it differ from the PX release?

The type of sherry and the build. The PX release is a straight finish in sweet Pedro Ximénez, while Reserva Andalucia marries sherry and bourbon casks from the start and then finishes in dry oloroso. The result is more thoroughly sherried and less sweet.

What is the difference between oloroso and PX?

Oloroso matures in contact with air and turns dry, nutty and lightly bitter. PX is made from sun-dried grapes and is very sweet with raisin and syrup. The two cask types pull a whisky in opposite directions. See the other Scottish styles in our Scotch Whisky selection.

Is it peated?

No. Glencadam uses unpeated malt across the range, and there is no peat character in the whisky.

Why is there no age statement?

Because the batch is assembled from casks of different ages to hit a particular profile. An age statement would have to follow the youngest cask and would give a misleading picture of the whole.

How is it best enjoyed?

Neat, at room temperature. At 46% the balance has been found, and water can kill the sherry notes quickly. Give it five to ten minutes in the glass so the nuts and dried fruit have time to step forward.

Is it a good place to start with sherried whisky?

Yes. It is sherried without being a sherry bomb, and the bright Glencadam fruit keeps it from turning heavy. That makes it a sensible introduction to what oloroso does to a whisky.