Side by side: Glencadam Reserva Range

@GlencadamWhisky is a slightly unusual Highland's distillery in that it uses ex-bourbon casks for most of it's releases.

That was until it released it's Reserva Collection!

Following on the back of some aged Reserva releases, this NAS range includes 6 bottles to date with at least 3 more on the horizon! They're all bottled at 46% ABV, non chill filtered and natural colour. Glencadam's fruity spirit (due to it's upward pointing lyne arms) was matured in a combination of ex-bourbon casks : first fill for between 2½ years with an 18 month finish in the Reserva casks and second fill for 6 years with a 24 month finish.

All except the Andalucía (which is now core range) are small batches of around 6,000 bottles which may or may not be repeated! They are retailing at around £45 each.

Photo: @WhiskyAlly

Not all of them have yet been released in the UK, the full range is:

Release	Cask Finish
Reserva De Andalucía	Oloroso
Reserva PX	European & American Oak PX
Reserva De Burgundy	Pinot Noir Wine
Reserva De Bordeaux	French Oak Merlot Wine
Reserva De Porto Tawny	Tawny Port
Reserva De Porto Branco	European Oak White Port

Glencadam distillery invited me to a zoom tasting of the new range with Master Blender Iain Forteath.

Here's my brief thoughts on the bottlings:

	Reserva De Andalucía My thoughts: Mid gold in glass, swirls cling as thick lines and fall as slow thin oily legs. Nose: Hedgerow berries, cherries, candied peel, dried fruit, ginger nuts, orange marmalade. Palate: thick sweet arrival, toffee, berries and cherries, dried fruit, orange marmalade, gentle ginger spice.
	Reserva De Porto Branco My thoughts: Pale gold in the glass, swirls cling as thick lines and fall as thick oily legs. Nose: yogurt, sour citrus, apricot, dried fruit. Palate: thick sweet arrival, baked orchard fruit, dried fruit,  vanilla, very drying, a little salinity and some funky dunnage notes. More sherry notes rather than port!
	Reserva De Burgundy My thoughts: Mid gold in the glass, swirls cling as thin lines and fall as thin legs. Nose: a little closed, musty, orchard fruit and sweet shop notes. Palate: thin sweet arrival, orchard fruit, digestive biscuit, blackberries, black cherries. Dry peppery spice.
	Reserva De Bordeaux My thoughts: Light gold in the glass, swirls cling as thick lines and fall as slow thick legs. Nose: Musty dunnage funk, stewed orchard fruit, cherries, rhubarb. Palate: thin sweet arrival, orchard fruit, coffee, bitter dark chocolate, dry ginger spice.
	Reserva PX My thoughts: Bronze in the glass, swirls cling as a thick line, bead up slowly and fall as slow thick oily legs. Nose: Red berries, dunnage funk, Black Forest Gateaux, Christmas spices. Palate: thick dry arrival, sweet honey, toffee, balsamic drizzled strawberries, red berries, cherries and a chilli spice.
	Reserva De Porto Tawny My thoughts: Red in the glass! Swirls cling as a thick line, bead up slowly and fall as slow thick oily legs. Nose: Red berries, rhubarb, strawberry jam and toffee. Palate: sweet thick arrival, immediately drying. Berries and cherries, rhubarb, plums and a dry chilli spice finish.

Huge thanks to Iain and the team at the distillery for the samples and a really enjoyable zoom session!