Glencadam distillery

Glencadam distillery stands in Brechin, a small town in Angus, Scotland. It is a single malt Scotch whisky distillery owned by Angus Dundee plc. The site itself sits about 200 yards from Brechin Distillery, close to the centre of Brechin. The distillery produces one main malt whisky, while the rest goes to blenders or is used in Angus Dundee’s own blends. Production has shifted over time, with wartime rationing and ownership changes shaping its history. Today it is part of a group that also owns Tomintoul Distillery. The distillery’s story began in 1825 when merchant George Cooper founded it. Early owners included David Scott, who ran the site from 1827 to 1837. Later, Gilmour, Thompson & Company used some of its whisky in their Royal Blend brand. Hiram Walker bought it in 1954, followed by George Ballantine & Son Ltd the next year. After a period of closure in 2000, Angus Dundee plc restarted production in 2003. The range now includes whiskies aged from 10 to 21 years, with finishes in port wood and oloroso sherry casks. Visitors find a working distillery where malt whisky is still made in copper stills. The core range includes a 10-year-old single malt, a 14-year-old sherry-cask expression, and a 21-year-old standard. Special releases such as a 12-year-old port-finished whisky and a 17-year-old port wood edition have been added in recent years. The 18-year-old whisky was brought back in 2023 after a seven-year absence. The site remains a quiet corner of Brechin, yet its whiskies travel widely in blends and as single malts.