Glencadam - 10 Year Old Single Malt.

Inland from the east coast of Scotland is the ancient market town of Brechin which boasts two distilleries, Glencadam and North Port. The former was built in 1895 and extensively modernised in the 1950s. Most of its production goes for blending and used for Ballantines & Cream of the Barley.The distillery has no visitor centre but visitors are welcome by appointment.

Nose: crystal clarity to the sharp, ultra fresh barley. Clean, uncluttered by excessive oak, the apparent lightness is deceptive; the intensity of the malt carries its own impressive weight and the citrus note compliments rather than thins. Enticing;

Taste: immediately zingy and eye-watering salivating with a fabulous layering of sweet barley. Equally delicate oak chimes in to ensure a lightly spiced balance and a degree of attitude;

Finish: longer than the early barley freshness would have you expecting, with soft oils ensuring an extended, tapering, malty edge to the gentle, clean oak;

Balance: sophisticated, sensual with character and about as puckering elegant as single malt gets…and even thirst-quenching. My God: the guy who put this one together must be a genius, or something.

95 Points - Jim Murray's 2012 Whisky Bible.