Glencadam Distillery: History, Owner and Visitor Guide
Updated: 3 hours ago
Glencadam is a Highland single malt distillery in Brechin, Angus, with roots in the 1820s. For most of its life it fed blends. In recent years it has built a proper single malt range and, in 2025, opened its first visitor centre.
In this guide
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Glencadam at a glance
Distillery fact | Verified detail |
|---|---|
Distillery / brand | Glencadam |
Whisky region | Highland, Scotland |
Ownership (October 2026) | Angus Dundee Distillers |
History | Founded in 1825 at Brechin. |
Expressions to explore | Glencadam 10 Year Old and Glencadam 15 Year Old |
Visiting / editorial note | This has changed recently. ScotchWhisky.com still lists the distillery as not open to the public. |
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Where is Glencadam distillery?
Glencadam sits in the Burgh of Brechin, Angus (postcode DD9 7PA), on the edge of town. ScotchWhisky.com files it as a Highland distillery. The Single Cask places it in the Eastern Highlands, about half a mile from the River Esk.
Glencadam history
ScotchWhisky.com says Glencadam was built in the optimistic years after the 1823 Excise Act, and dates the founding to 1825 under George Cooper. David Scott took over in 1827. The Single Cask says Scott took the tenancy from his father-in-law Cooper, and notes that accounts differ on which name is tied to the founding. Wikipedia says Scott was proprietor from 1827 to 1837.
After several owners, the Glasgow blender Gilmour Thomson and Co bought the distillery in 1891 (Wikipedia spells it Thompson). When the blending house stopped trading in 1954, Glencadam was sold to the Canadian distiller Hiram Walker. It later passed to Allied Lyons and Allied Domecq and was seen as the home of the Dundee blend Stewart's Cream of the Barley.
Allied mothballed the distillery in 2000. Angus Dundee bought it in 2003 and restarted production. The Single Cask says it was back in production within two months. In 2021, according to the same source, a nineteenth-century water wheel was reinstated.
Who owns Glencadam?
Angus Dundee Distillers, which also owns Tomintoul. ScotchWhisky.com notes that Angus Dundee's blending lab is now located at the distillery.
How Glencadam is made
Stills: two, one wash and one spirit, ogee or pear shaped, with lyne arms angled upwards to encourage reflux
Capacity: 1.4 million litres of pure alcohol a year (ScotchWhisky.com). The Single Cask quotes 1.3 to 1.4 million
Malt: unpeated
Mash tun: traditional, grist of about 4.9 tonnes (ScotchWhisky.com). The Single Cask says batches of around five tonnes, ground on an old Porteus mill
Washbacks: six, stainless steel
Fermentation: about 48 hours
Water: ScotchWhisky.com lists the source as Moorans. The Single Cask says Loch Lee and the River Esk system, with cooling water from the Barry Burn
New make strength: 68%
Glencadam range
ScotchWhisky.com dates the 10 year old and a redesigned 15 year old to 2008 and a 30 year old to 2012, and says recent bottlings are not chill-filtered or tinted with caramel. The Single Cask counts ten official expressions from 10 to 25 years old plus wood finishes, mostly at 46%, and mentions port and oloroso finishes. Wikipedia describes Glencadam as producing a single malt, with the rest sold to blenders or used in Angus Dundee blends. These counts differ, so check the official site for the current range.
Can you visit Glencadam?
This has changed recently. ScotchWhisky.com still lists the distillery as not open to the public. The Single Cask says Glencadam opened its first visitor centre in 2025 for its bicentenary, with tours of about ninety minutes, tastings in a whisky lounge, fill-your-own bottling stations and a cafe, and that more experiences were planned for 2026. Confirm tour times and prices on the official site before visiting.
Official website
https://www.glencadam.com/
Sources
Cover image: Wikimedia Commons.
Glencadam bottle range and expression comparison
Bottle / expression | Age | ABV | Documented producer expression |
|---|---|---|---|
Glencadam 10 Year Old | Check label | Check label | Documented expression; batch and availability vary |
Glencadam 15 Year Old | Check label | Check label | Documented expression; batch and availability vary |
Glencadam Reserva Andalucia | Check label | Check label | Documented expression; batch and availability vary |
Glencadam Reserva PX | Check label | Check label | Documented expression; batch and availability vary |
Glencadam 18 Year Old | Check label | Check label | Documented expression; batch and availability vary |
Glencadam American Oak Reserve | Check label | Check label | Documented expression; batch and availability vary |
Glencadam 17 Year Old Reserve de Calvados | Check label | Check label | Documented expression; batch and availability vary |
Producer and release sources document these expressions. Historical bottles may be out of production or unavailable. Bottled sourced or blended whiskey is not always entirely distilled at this site.
Bottle releases and visitor arrangements change over time; see original research and official sources.
More whisky distilleries to explore
Frequently asked questions about Glencadam
Where is Glencadam?
In Brechin, Angus.
When was it founded?
1825, with George Cooper named as founder by ScotchWhisky.com and Wikipedia.
Who owns it?
Angus Dundee Distillers.
Is Glencadam peated?
No. ScotchWhisky.com lists the malt as unpeated.
Was Glencadam ever closed?
Yes. Allied mothballed it in 2000 and Angus Dundee reopened it after buying it in 2003.
Sources and latest checks
Whisky Clan has retained the original researched history and source notes above. The comparison table lists documented expressions, not guaranteed current stock. Please check the producer's current bottle labels for strength, cask details and availability.
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Whisky producer and release source: https://www.glencadamwhisky.com/
About the author
 | Filip Janczak Storyteller, drinker and explorer of all things whisky. Read more about the person behind Whisky Clan and explore additional reviews and distillery guides. |
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