September 2019

The Macallan Classic Cut 2018 Edition

/ / Review, Scottish Whisky, Speyside /

The Macallan Classic Cut 2018 Edition

51.2% ABV
$90-$110
Website
Macallan Classic Cut 2018
We would like to thank Paul (check out his reviews here, or on Dapper Drams) for sending us a sample to review.

What the Distillery Says

EXQUISITELY BALANCED FLAVOUR
The second edition in the limited annual series, The Macallan Classic Cut – 2018 Edition has an ABV of 51.2% chosen by the Whisky Maker Ian Morrison as the optimum strength to reveal a dominant sweetness and the well balanced flavours delivered by the exceptional Sherry Oak Casks. After allowing to breathe for 10-15 minutes, heightened flavours of citrus, sweet vanilla and spice come to the forefront, combined with a satisfyingly long dry oak finish. Classic Cut 2018 is a truly indulgent single malt whisky.

THE EXPERIENCE
COLOUR: Earthy gold.
NOSE: Orange and lemon citrus dominates the sweet notes of nutmeg and ginger and hints of vanilla and polished oak.
PALATE: Ginger and nutmeg with a full bodied sweet vanilla and orange note.
FINISH: Medium sweet with a long dry oak finish.

What Gary Says

Nose:  Rich sherried raisins, figs, dates, slightly burnt honey, allspice, subtle smoke, hints of clove and nutmeg.
Palate:  Creamy mouthfeel at the start, sweet dark fruit – raisins, plums, sherry – with a pepper bit in the mid palate followed by citrus spice and hints of anise.
Finish:  Moderately long with pepper spice and fading fruit.
Comments:  I absolutely LOVED Macallan Cask Strength (in fact, it was the first Macallan I ever bought, and my only regret is not buying more). Unfortunately my discovery came after it was discontinued. I was hoping that this might be a replacement, but it is a faint, distant shadow by comparison. Honestly, that’s not fair on my part to compare the two – they’re very different whiskies, and longing for what I can’t pick up on the store does no good. On its own, this is a pretty tasty pour – a lot of flavor and takes water well.

Rating: Stands Out

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The Macallan Rare Cask

/ / Review, Scottish Whisky, Speyside / ,

The Macallan Rare Cask
Highland Single Malt Whisky

43% ABV
$270 – $300
Website
Macallan Rare Cask
We would like to thank Paul (check out his reviews here, or on Dapper Drams) for sending us a sample to review.

What the Distillery Says

ULTIMATE SELECTION
Rare Cask combines knowledge, skill, passion, commitment and creativity to create a remarkable whisky worthy of its name.

Crafted to showcase complexity and depth, Rare Cask is drawn from the broadest spectrum of casks used in maturation on The Macallan Estate. Hand-picked by our whisky making team, the combination of sherry seasoned American and European oak casks – a high proportion of them first fill – deliver an exquisite and unmistakably woody whisky with a rich hue.

Incomparable access to the most extensive range of cooperages in Spain gives us some of the finest and scarcest casks to choose from to create Rare Cask, which results in a diversity in the finished whisky unlike other Macallan expression. It is the role of the whisky making team to get to know each and every cask in detail, from how it interacts with the spirit to the spectrum of colours it imparts. This relationship between cask and craftsman, spirit and skill, ultimately give us Rare Cask.

With rarity at its core, this is a whisky that will slightly differ in makeup from bottling to bottling; with some casks so rare they will never be used again in any other Macallan. Far less than 1% of casks maturing at the distillery have been identified as fitting to bestow the Rare Cask name – and enable the creation of this multifaceted single malt.

Taking inspiration from The Macallan’s iconic triangle and designed to celebrate its natural color, Rare Cask is presented in a sculpted, heavy glass decanter.

THE EXPERIENCE
COLOUR: Ruby Red.
NOSE: Soft notes of opulent vanilla and raisin give way to a sweet ensemble of apple, lemon, and orange. All balanced by a spicy quartet of root ginger, cinnamon, nutmeg and clove.
PALATE: This spicy quartet are unwavering. Oak resonates, timeless, polished and rich. Vanilla and chocolate lead the finale along with a light citrus zest.
FINISH: Warming and woody.

What Gary Says

Nose:  Rich and thick, full of raisins and plums, balsamic with brown sugar, subtle smoke amongst old leather furniture, and a hint of a musky, vegetal note.
Palate:  Creamy velvety mouthfeel, intense fruit – raisins, apricots, a hint of orange, oak, milk chocolate with bits of nutmeg.
Finish:  Moderately long, drying with oak tannins and a citrus zest; leaning towards lemon from orange; with trailing pepper spice.
Comments:  This has a lovely dark color, and at first blush reminds me of Macallan Cask Strength (which is a huge compliment!) It isn’t quite that level of intensity, but it is a lovely dram, rich with fruit and quite intense for 43% ABV. This would be a solid ‘Must Try’ other than the price point, which is a bit steep for me. There isn’t anything wrong with this dram, and I wouldn’t necessarily have buyers remorse had I bought a bottle – but there are other Macallan whiskies around $100 that I like nearly as much. That said – if you’ve got the budget and are a fan of Macallan, I’d lean towards the ‘Must Try’ spectrum.

Rating: Must Try/Stands Out

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The Macallan Edition No. 3

/ / Review, Scottish Whisky, Speyside /

The Macallan Edition No. 3
C6.V523.T23.2017-003

48.3% ABV
$100-$110
Website
The Macallan Edition 3

What the Distillery Says

A DYNAMIC AND ORIGINAL COLLABORATION
Inspiration and innovation lie at the heart of The Macallan and nowhere is this more evident than in The Edition Series. Edition No. 3 brings to life the flavor experience of The Macallan through aroma, calling on Master Perfumer Roja Dove’s remarkable sensory knowledge and expert sense of smell to create the third unique expression in the series. Borne of two art forms, Edition No. 3 unites the worlds of whisky and aroma to reveal the complexities of single malt character and the power of the senses in creating and experiencing The Macallan. When we experience and enjoy whisky, the power of aroma is unquestionable – and it is this power that makes the approach to Edition No. 3 truly mesmerizing.

Roja brought his skill to the distillery and the creative process, nosing a range of whisky samples to provide his thoughts and interpretation of the character and aromas he encountered. Roja’s articulation of aromas was then used in the whisky’s creation to select dominant notes that shape the final character of Edition No.3. Drawn from a combination of European and American oak casks, Edition No.3 is sweet and fruity in character, balancing the heavier base recognisable in our single malts with citrus, vanilla, florals and fresh cut oak.

THE EXPERIENCE
COLOUR: Barley Gold.
NOSE: Reminiscent of a fine fragrance with vanilla ice cream, fresh cut oak and delicate florals. Orange oil provides subtle grandeur while ginger, cinnamon and nutmeg flit in and out. Vanilla imparts sweetness with citrus fruits at the fore before allowing chocolate to come through. Burnished oak delivers a soft ending.
PALATE: Sweet fruit, vanilla and rich fruit cake with hints of apricot, pear and crisp green apple. Ginger and cinnamon are balanced with a light resinous oak finale.
FINISH: Long, sweet and fruity, leaving a lasting impression on the senses.

What Gary Says

Nose:  Stewed dark fruit – raisins, plums and some orange zest; notes of balsamic and hazelnuts, milk chocolate, hints of leather, fall leaves, spent matches, and floral notes.
Palate:  Rich, viscous mouthfeel, sweet raisin bread with vanilla creme icing, mixed fruit – peaches, pears – a kick of cinnamon spice with nutmeg, a touch of ginger, and a hint of tangerines.
Finish:  Long, drying with cinnamon apples and citrus undertones.
Comments:  Damn this is delicious! A lovely mouthfeel, well balanced, sweet but a nice spice kick. In the same price range as Macallan Classic Cut, I prefer this over that by a fair margin. This is lighter in color than some of the other Macallan’s, but the flavor density is quite solid for the price.

Rating: Must Try

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The Macallan Gold

/ / Review, Scottish Whisky, Speyside / ,

The Macallan Gold
Single Malt Scotch Whisky

40% ABV
$50
Website
Macallan Gold

What the Distillery Says

-The 1824 Series-
The Macallan Gold forms part of The 1824 Series which exemplifies our commitment to 100% natural colour, present in each and every Macallan single malt. The colour of each expression becomes richer as the range progresses and its flavours more intense.

THE EXPERIENCE
COLOUR: Burnished gold.
NOSE: Lemon citrus, then orange peel and an interlacing sweetness that softens but doesn’t eliminate the zest. A quiet note of vanilla is followed by dark chocolate with lingering floral and light oak notes.
PALATE: Citrus and boiled sweets rule the palate, along with hints of ginger and cinnamon, while soft oak tones reveal toasted apples.
FINISH: Medium sweet, malty and slightly dry.

NOTE: Reborn as The Macallan Double Cask Gold as of April 2018, The Macallan Gold (part of The 1824 Series) is embodied in a new look range; offering the same unique whisky with a new name, new bottle and bold new packaging.

What Gary Says

Nose:  Rich, musky stewed peaches atop lemon meringue pie, notes of honey with caramel, subtle baking spices and floral notes.
Palate:  Creamy mouthfeel with a rich sweetness of vanilla, honey, cooked peaches, chocolate orange, subtle caramel and cinnamon.
Finish:  Short to moderate in length, with hints of salted caramel.
Comments:  Tasting this at the same time as the Macallan Fine Oak 12 Yr, I liked this quite a bit more. The color is a bit deeper, and this had a richness and depth of flavor that I really enjoyed. Not being familiar with it, I assumed this was the more expensive of the two – so imagine my surprise when I compiled my notes for this review. At this price point, I’d consider this a ‘Must Try’ for fans of Macallan (and if you’re not, it definitely stands out as a solid single malt).

Rating: Must Try/Stands Out

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The Macallan Fine Oak 12 Years Old

/ / Review, Scottish Whisky, Speyside /

The Macallan Fine Oak 12 Years Old
Single Malt Scotch Whisky

40% ABV
$65 – $80
Website
Macallan Fine Oak 12 Year

What the Distillery Says

The Macallan Fine Oak 12 Years Old forms part of the Fine Oak range and is matured for a minimum of twelve years in three exceptional oak cask types. This complex combination of casks delivers a smooth whisky with notes of dried fruit, honey and subtle spice.

THE EXPERIENCE
COLOUR: Pale straw.
NOSE: Complex, with a hint of fruit and vanilla.
PALATE: Medium, balanced with fruit, oak and spice.
FINISH: Lingering with dried fruits, oak and spice.

NOTE: Reborn as The Macallan Triple Cask Matured 12 Years Old from April 2018, The Macallan Fine Oak 12 Years Old is embodied in a new look range; offering the same extraordinarily smooth, delicate yet complex character with a new name, new bottle and bold new packaging.

What Gary Says

Nose:  Bright malt, honeysuckle, day-old peach cobbler, subtle smoke with floral hints.
Palate:  Sweet and fruity with green apples, honey, oak and just a hint of pepper spice.
Finish:  A tad short, with honey and dried fruit.
Comments:  This is a different take on Macallan – fruity but not the dark fruit you get from the sherry cask matured standard bearer. The finish was fairly short (at least to me) which surprised me. Fans of Macallan wanting to explore the whisky with different wood treatment might be interested in this. While nothing turned me off, nothing really grabbed my attention either.

Rating: Average

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