The Macallan Fine Oak Whisky Maker’s Selection Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky
42.8% ABV/85.6 Proof
$75 to $90 for 1 liter
Duty Free/Travel Retail Exclusive
Website
What the Distillery Says:
The 1824 Collection
The 1824 Collection is a definitive range of Single Malts exclusive to Travel Retail. Crafted by those at its heart, these personal whiskies tell a particular story about The Macallan and draw on its long history, rich traditions and legendary dedication to quality.
Whisky Maker’s Edition
Containing rare whisky distilled from barley grown on The Macallan’s Estate, Whisky Maker’s Edition is personally crafted by The Macallan’s Whisky Maker, Bob Dalgarno and bottled at his preferred strength of 42.8% ABV. This Macallan is exceptionally elegant with a lingering finish.
What Richard Says:
Nose: This one is very green and cereal in nature. Bread, grains, breakfast cereal, and also a not altogether pleasant malty note.
Palate: It’s very viscous and there’s a sweet and bitter interplay that seem at odds with each other. It’s nutty with notes of honey. The palate is also very cereal-like in flavor.
Finish: Dry, hot, and a little bitter.
Comments: Let me start by saying I like Macallan scotch. I have for a long time. At the risk of being one of “those guys” I’ll say that I liked it before it was cool. I also like the Fine Oak Range. When it was released Macallan got a lot of flack for it but I enjoy it almost as much as the Sherry Range. All that said, I don’t like this. If you see the 1824 Collection on your next trip through duty free you might want to pick up one of the other expressions.
Rating: Probably Pass
Tags: Macallan Whisky Maker's Selection, The 1824 Collection, The Macallan
Ah Burns Night. For those of you not familiar it is the 25th of January. People gather to celebrate the birthday of Robert Burns, that greatest of Scottish bards. Scotch is drank, haggis is eaten, poetry is espoused, and many toasts are made. It is generally a fine time had by all. However, last night I got to experience Burns Night at Mac McGee. Those boys do a hell of a Burns Night. Simon Brooking was there with Laphroaig pouring their great whiskies. Mac McGee’s chef and sous chef made a fantastic meal. Seriously, I had no idea haggis could be that could. I could have eaten the whole damn thing!
It was a great night all around but I would like to give few specific shout outs. First, thank you to Simon for bringing the whisky. He truely is one of the best brand ambassadors of any whisky brand we are fortunate enough to have here in the United States. Second, as I mentioned before I want to give serious props to the chef and kitchen staff. You might want to consider putting that haggis on the menu! Third, a huge shout out to Casey Teague and the Mac McGee staff for organizing a great event. They are really making their watering hole a great whisky bar. If you haven’t been by yet you need to go. Finally, the two Scottish gentle providing the entertainment were amazing. Bagpipes and Burns poetry reading may not be for everyone but these two fellows were spectacular.
If you’re one of our twitter followers, you may have noticed I actually tried tweeting last night. I’m new at it so give me some time to hit my stride. It’s hard to eat, toast, drink, and tweet at the same time.
I never really need a reason to drink scotch but if I have one I won’t pass it up. I definitely won’t be passing up Burns Night anymore either.
Slainte!
Richard
Tags: Atlanta Scotch Dinner, Atlanta whisky dinner, Burns Night Dinner, Laphroaig, Mac McGee Irish Pub
I know I’ve been out of the loop recently, but I have two announcements that should intrigue our readers in the UK.
JW STEAKHOUSE LAUNCHES ITS OWN JACK DANIEL’S SINGLE BARREL
JW Steakhouse is delighted to announce the launch of its very own Jack Daniel’s Single Barrel – a truly unique-tasting whiskey exclusively available to guests of the restaurant. Following months going through the bespoke process, JW Steakhouse’s Single Barrel will arrive from the Jack Daniel Distillery in Lynchberg, Tennessee and be available to buy in the restaurant in spring 2012.
Only one in a hundred barrels is selected by Jack Daniel’s Master Taster to carry the Single Barrel label, and JW Steakhouse feels privileged to have acquired one of these and be able to offer a whiskey that is uniquely available to its guests and one that can not be experienced anywhere else in the world. A Single Barrel whiskey is distinctive due to its rich and intense flavours owing to the advantaged position it holds at the upper reaches of the barrelhouses.
In October 2011, a tasting session took place in the restaurant with Grosvenor House’s General Manager Stuart Bowery, Restaurant Manager Raoul de Souza, Beverage Manager Pierce du Plessis and the rest of the F&B team, with samples selected by the Master Taster. This ensured the team chose a whiskey that best fits the JW Steakhouse guests’ taste preferences. Batch 1007 was selected as the first ‘JW Steakhouse single barrel’. It was agreed that the initial nose, which highlighted the toasted oak nature of the barrel would appeal to a traditional Jack Daniel’s drinker, whilst the hints of liquorice, smoke and toffee would remind them of the luxurious nature of the whiskey. The palate highlighted the complexity of Jack Daniel’s Single Barrel with wonderful flavours of maple and vanilla coupled with a punchy spiciness that one would usually associate with a rye whiskey, and a long finish that is more akin with the finest single malt Scotch whiskies. As Stuart Bowery comments “all in all a truly remarkable whiskey and perfect for JW Steakhouse”.
The empty barrel will be proudly displayed at the bar having been sanded, varnished and engraved with the JW Steakhouse logo. Having been fledged a member of the Jack Daniel family, a plaque bearing the restaurant’s name will also be displayed on the distillery wall.
Since opening in May 2010, JW Steakhouse at Grosvenor House, A JW Marriott Hotel in Mayfair has firmly established itself as a leading American steakhouse in London and this is the latest way in which the restaurant continues to offer its guests unique and enjoyable tasting experiences whilst heralding its trans-Atlantic heritage. In addition to this new exclusive Jack Daniel Single Barrel, The Bourbon Bar at JW Steakhouse also has an extensive array of other single barrels and small batch bourbons, offered in innovative tasting flights, to complement the restaurant’s menu.
Jack Daniel’s Single Barrel will be available from March. It will be priced at £10.00 per 50ml measure and £130.00 per bottle. For reservations telephone 020 7399 8460 or visit www.jwsteakhouse.co.uk
BURNS NIGHT IN KNIGHTSBRIDGE AT THE RIB ROOM
“But we hae meat, and we can eat, Sae let the Lord be thankit” – Robert Burns, The Selkirk Grace
This January, The Rib Room Bar & Restaurant at Jumeirah Carlton Tower is opening the doors to patriotic Scots and sympathetic Sassenachs in celebration of the birth of Burns, with a five course tasting menu from the four corners of Caledonia.From 20-25 January, for £50 per person, diners can enjoy an array of classic seasonal Scottish dishes given a modern twist by head chef Ian Rudge.
Straight from Scotland’s bonnie banks and braes, a starter salad of Crowdie cheese, pickled vegetables, beetroot, roasted walnuts and croutons is closely followed by the fish course and an innovative twist on a classic; a delicate dish of pan-fried scallops with a Cullen skink and cauliflower purée. Followed with magnificently prepared loin of Highland venison with haggis and chestnut casserole, parsnip and apple. Providing a taste of Scotland’s sweet tooth an array of desserts include cranachan, chocolate and Drambuie mousse and Dundee cake soufflé. A must try are mini Tunnocks-inspired petit fours to accompany your coffee.
For a full-blooded Burns experience, guests can hire The Buccleuch private dining room for £100 per person and enjoy all the trappings of tradition. As well as the five course menu, diners will receive a bottle of Glenmorangie Astar Single Malt to share and an additional middlecourse of haggis, neeps and tatties welcomed by a piper before your own personal poet reciting Burns’ most famous Ode, celebrating the “Great Chieftan o’ the Puddin-race!”
Discerning drinkers can also join the celebrations with a specially created heather infused gin cocktail, aptly named Slàinte (Gaelic for cheers!) or The Rib Room Bar’s signature, ‘Flaming Bobby Burns’, a ‘blazer cocktail’ featuring a beguiling blend of Glenmorangie Astar Single Malt Whisky, aged sweet Antica Formula Vermouth and Benedictine poured alight from one glass to the next in a thrilling serve at the bar.
The Rib Room Bar & Restaurant has reopened following an extensive refurbishment by Martin Brudnizki. The legendary Knightsbridge institution has been reinvented for the 21st century, offering guests a stylish place to dine with the world-renowned Jumeirah standard of service.
So if you are stuck south of the border on the 25th January, The Rib Room Bar & Restaurant is sure to be the bonniest Burns Night in London.
The Rib Room Burns Supper Menu
20th-25th January 2012
£50 per person
Including a Slàinte cocktail on arrival
Salad of Crowdie cheese, pickled vegetables, beetroot, roasted walnuts and croutons
* * *
Pan fried scallop, Cullen Skink and cauliflower puree
* * *
Loin of Highland venison, haggis and chestnut casserole, parsnip and apple.
* * *
A tasting of Scotland, Cranachan, chocolate and Drambuie mousse, Dundee cake soufflé
* * *
Coffee & mini Tunnocks
Tags: Bourbon, Burns Night, Event Notices, Jack Daniels, scotch dinner
I’m supposed to have a review of Michter’s Straight Rye up for you all today. Well, thanks to a couple of work related flights last week I have a bit of a sinus infection so I’m a little behind on that one. It’s really hard to taste whiskey when you can’t breathe. I should have it up soon along with a new product release from Woodford Reserve. Next month will be Macallan focused and I already have most of those reviews done so we shouldn’t have the same problem in February.
Also, I’ll be at the Burn’s Night Dinner at Mac McGee next Wednesday so if you see a big dark haired guy with a goatee stop over and say high.
Drink wisely my friends,
Richard
Who says you have to wait until St. Patrick’s Day to celebrate Irish Whiskey? Mac McGee will be hosting Jameson Ambassador Hannah O’Leary for a tasting of fine Jameson whiskeys. The event will be held at Mac McGee Irish Pub, 111 Sycamore Street in Decatur, Georgia on Saturday, January 28th at 7:00 PM. You can RSVP at 404-377-8050. Further details are listed below:
Come down and join us for a tasting of one of the world’s top rated spirits, the distinctive Jameson Irish Whiskey. Jameson Ambassador Hannah O’Leary will be conducting the tasting on Jameson, Jameson 12 year old Special Reserve, Jameson Gold Reserve, and Jameson 18 year old Limited Reserve for $30. We will also be offering the unmistakable pot still Jameson Rarest Vintage for $15. Plus a new rare release! The tasting will be from 7pm-9pm. Slainte
No word yet but I’m thinking that new rare release may be Jameson Select Reserve Black Barrel I mentioned back in October.
Drink wisely my friends,
Richard
Tags: Atlanta Irish Whiskey Tasting, Atlanta Whiskey Tasting, Jameson, Jameson Gold Reserve, Jameson Limited Reserve, Jameson Rarest Vintage, Jameson Special Reserve, Mac McGee Irish Pub
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