Macallan 12 vs Classic Cut 2018 vs Cask Strength

Macallan 12 vs Classic Cut 2018 (diluted to 40% ABV) vs Cask Strength (diluted to 40% ABV)

After reviewing The Macallan Classic Cut 2018 and The Macallan Cask Strength – both of which are non-age stated – I pondered how these would compare with The Macallan 12 yr if I brought them both down to the same 40% ABV.

I carefully measured out the whisky and appropriate water amount, thinking I might be able to do this as a blind side-by-side-by-side. It was clear that I’d have to actually be blind to not tell the difference, as visually the differences were stark.

The above image doesn’t quite do it justice, but is close. What you’re seeing above from left to right is The Macallan Cask Strength (60.1% originally), The Macallan 12 yr (40%), and The Macallan Classic Cut 2018 (51.2% originally). After bringing the outside ones down to 40%, it was clear that the Cask Strength likely has older whisky than 12 yrs, while the Classic Cut likely has younger whisky. Age and color aren’t linear, and there are some light colored whiskies that are amazing – so let’s not dwell on the color. The picture doesn’t show how much the Classic Cut clouded up (much more so than the Cask Strength).

The Macallan 12yr Sherry Oak

40% ABV (same as bottled strength)
Color: Amber, crisp & coppery.
Nose: Dark fruit, plums, raisins, musky oak.
Palate: Sherried fruit, slight pepper spice with some savory herbal notes in the back.
Finish: Moderate in length, drying with dark fruit and trailing pepper spice.
Comments: A perfectly fine single malt, and a great baseline of comparison for other Macallan expressions.

The Macallan Classic Cut 2018

40% ABV (brought down from bottled strength of 51.2% ABV)
Color: Yellow, natural honey; quite cloudy.
Nose: Fruity, with apricots and figs, little oak and orange candies.
Palate: Less sweet, more herbal with toned down stewed dark fruit.
Finish: Shorter, with trailing spice notes.
Comments: At 40%, this is pretty disappointing. My guess is that this is much younger than 12 yrs old, or aged in different wood, or aged in much different areas of the rickhouse. That said, you can’t take Macallan 12 and ‘up the proof’ – or said another way, the whisky in this bottle wasn’t necessarily intended to shine at this proof.

The Macallan Classic Cask Strength

40% ABV (brought down from bottled strength of 60.1% ABV)
Color: Still dark, brown brick with deep red tones, cloudy.
Nose: Rich, dark fruits with tobacco and hints of leather (like Macallan 12 but turned up another notch or three).
Palate: Sherried fruit, oak, pepper spice with smoke.
Finish: Moderate to long with drying cigar paper and hints of raisins.
Comments: While this had the most water added, it remained the darkest (although didn’t cloud up as much as the Classic Cut, which I found interesting). This was the one I enjoyed the most at this proof, although I won’t dilute what I have left of this lovely whisky to 40% (I enjoy it more at something closer to the bottle strength). It remains rich and complex, with depth and balance that sets it apart from the other two. I would conclude that this is a older than the 12 yr, and possibly matured differently (either different locations or different wood). Either way, it is freaking delicious.