Origin: Speyside (Scotland)
Type: Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Gradation: 43%ABV
Ageing casks: Ex-Sherry American and European and ex-Bourbon
Chillfiltered: No
Added coloring: No
Owner: Edrington Group
Average price: € 160.00
Official website: www.themacallan.com
Vote: 83/100
A version released in April 2018 as a replacement for Fine Oak, quickly trying to make people forget a series that never quite found favour with the public.
The triple maturation would ideally like to offer an alternative to the fully sherried tones of the Macallans, with the ex-Bourbon cask tucked in to rebalance the two European and American sisters.
It should be noted the price gap over the 12 year old, more than double, now the distillery’s signature almost more than its aromatic profile…
Tasting notes
Light amber in the glass.
The nose is delicate but consistent, with warm, fruity notes of peaches, figs and plums combined with vanilla, caramel, cinnamon, orange peel and chocolate. Elegantly silky.
More convincingly sherried on the palate with sour cherries, sultanas in alcohol, citrus, touch of liquorice, chocolate, plums, dusting of paprika. Lemon cream. Presence of cereals and wood, with a hint of salt on the lips. Structured without particular flashes or complexity.
The finish is quite long and dry, with plums, lemon, wood and cereals.
An elegantly sober whisky that fails a little the intent (if that’s what it was) to be less sherried than usual, but whatever may have been in the master distiller’s mind, it remains a relaxing, pleasant and somewhat compassionate dram that, it must be said, comes at a truly disproportionate price for what it offers.
Reviews of Macallan whisky in the blog
Other perspectives:
The Whiskey Jug