Glencadam 2016 Bourbon #2591 – 62.4%

Glencadam, which translates to “Valley of the Wild Goose,” began operations in Brechin in 1825. The majority of its production is used for the Ballantines brand. After 180 years on the sidelines of the whiskey world, Glencadam stepped out of the shadow of the blending industry and onto the stage of independent bottlers—though it did so rather quietly. Its “East Highlands” single malt, made from unpeated barley malt, is still considered an insider’s secret today.

These whiskeys, which are up to 30 years old and are neither colored nor chill-filtered, are produced—just as they were in the early days of this small distillery—in two original copper pot stills. Due to their design, these stills produce a particularly delicate and smooth spirit. This is because the Lyne arms slope upward at a 15-degree angle, rather than downward.