Review

Macallan 12 Year

/ / Review, Scottish Whisky, Speyside /

The Macallan Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky 12 Years Old
43% ABV/86 Proof
$40 to $45
Website

What the Distillery Says:
The Macallan Sherry Oak is exclusively matured for a minimum of 12 years in Spanish oak casks, handcrafted and sherry seasoned in Jerez, Spain. This delivers a classic Macallan style, wonderfully rich in colour with dried fruits, spice and chocolate orange.

What Richard Says:
Nose: The nose on this one is a little meaty with a lot of sherry and savory notes. There’s also a little of an odd rubbery smell to it at times.
Palate: This one is rich with a little fruity sweetness. The malty and sherry notes stand up and make themselves known.
Finish: The finish is a little slow. When it comes in it’s a decent mid length finish with mildly woody notes.
Comments: It’s funny because this is always one of those drams that I always remember liking better. No matter how often I have it the memory is always a little better than the actual experience. Don’t get me wrong, this is easily a stand out 12 year old single malt. It’s popular for a reason. It’s enjoyable, drinkable, and I’ll never turn one down when offered.
Rating: Stands Out

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Woodford Reserve Double Oaked

/ / Bourbon, Review /

Woodford Reserve Double Oaked Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey
45.2% ABV/90.4 Proof
$50
Website

What the Distillery Says:
An innovative approach to twice-barreled bourbon creates the rich and colorful flavor of Woodford Reserve Double Oaked. Uniquely matured in separate, charred oak barrels – the second barrel deeply toasted before a light charring – extracts additional amounts of soft, sweet oak character.

The overwhelming response to our master’s collection seasoned oak finish offering inspired us to create a twice-barreled bourbon that is available year-round. Uniquely matured in our handcrafted white oak barrels, the second barrel deeply toasted before a light charring, creates Woodford Reserve Double Oaked – a smooth, full-bodied expression with a long, rich finish that we are proud to share with others who are as passionate about bourbon as we are.

Maturation in a new, charred oak barrel provides Woodford Reserve with all of its natural color and a great deal of its award-winning flavor. This double oaked expression has been uniquely matured in two separate, custom crafted barrels. The second was deeply toasted before its light charring. The double barreling of mature Woodford Reserve in this unique barrel allows the spirit to extract an additional amount of soft, sweet oak character. This unique practice has created bourbon that is rich in honey, chocolate, marzipan and spiced apple character.

Color: Deep amber
Aroma: Rich notes of dark fruit, caramel, sharp honey, chocolate, marzipan and toasted oak.
Taste: A full-bodied mix of vanilla, dark caramel, hazelnut, apple, fruit and spices.
Finish: Long and creamy with lingering hints of honeyed apple.

What Richard Says:
Nose: This reminds me of snickerdoodles with vanilla ice cream: vanilla, cinnamon, and sugar. After it opens up a little the sugar turns into a fruity caramel.
Palate: Holy crap that’s good! It’s like Woodford taken to the next level. You’re hit with a blast of fruity oak infused sweetness but it’s not overpowering. Lots of vanilla and caramel. Really tasty.
Finish: Golden delicious and granny smith apples on a long oaky finish that mellow into a rich creaminess.
Comments: Brown Forman says they went for this expression after the response they got to the Seasoned Oak release a few years back. Well, they went out and did one better. This is a worthy line extension and a superior Woodford.
Rating: Must Try

I would like to thank Brittany Gilbert with Brown Forman for sending me a sample for review.

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Macallan Elegancia

/ / Review, Scottish Whisky, Speyside, The Collector's Cabinet /

The Macallan Elegancia Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky 12 Years Old
40% ABV/80 Proof
Collectible (at time of release it was about $55/liter)

What the Distillery Says:
Unfortunately, because this is a retired expression not much is available on it directly from the distillery. I can tell you that it was a duty free exclusive launched in 2002. Also, it was continually available in 1 liter bottles until it’s recent replacement by the 1824 Collection of Travel Retail exclusive offering.

What Richard Says:
Nose: I really like the nose on this. I get lots of oranges and candied nuts. Side-by-side with the standard 12 Year Old it’s more delicate and refined.
Palate: The palate is much more reserved and a little less sweet than the standard 12. I still get the rich, malty, sherry notes of the standard expression but it’s a little more delicate.
Finish: This dram is very short and surprisingly clean on the finish. It leaves behind a little oak and some nuttiness.
Comments: This is like a lighter expression of the standard 12 Year Old. While that plays well on the nose and finish I feel it’s a little too delicate on the palate. I don’t really like one over the other. It’s more like two sides of the same coin.
Rating: Stands Out

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Macallan Whisky Maker’s Selection

/ / Review, Scottish Whisky, Speyside /

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

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Michter’s Small Batch Bourbon

/ / Bourbon, Review /

Michter’s Small Batch Bourbon Whiskey
Batch No 11-159
45.7%/91.4 Proof
$35 to $40
Website

What the Distillery Says:
US*1 Small Batch Bourbon
We are proud to offer you our Small Batch Bourbon. In the Michter’s tradition hailing from America’s first whiskey distilling company, this bourbon is made from a proprietary mashbill that features the highest quality American corn and is then matured to the peak of perfection. It is then mellowed by our signature filtration.

What Richard Says:
Nose: Out of the bottle I get vanilla beans, caramel, and uncooked cornmeal. With a little water it opens up to notes of cherries and a Halls cough drop kind of menthol.
Palate: On the palate this bourbon is pleasantly sweet but not as sweet as the nose. It’s a little like Breyer’s Vanilla Bean Ice Cream. Behind that it reminds me a little more of a corn whiskey than a bourbon.
Finish: Like their American Whiskey the finish is a little too hot. It’s only a 4+ year old so that might be expected. It’s a little like wetting a black peppercorn, rolling it in cayenne, and sucking on it. Obviously, a little water mellow it out but in general the finish is a little bland. Oak and spice are a little too boiler plate in a bourbon finish. Also, with water I’m left with a slightly medicinal flavor going back to the menthol that I’m not a fan of.
Comments: I find this bottle a little too average. It’s nice enough for a bourbon in its age range but better can be had for cheaper. I’d probably give it an “average +” rating if we had a more complex rating system.
Rating: Average

I would like to thank Emily with Chatham Imports for sending over a bottle for review. They were also nice enough to send over some recipes with their fine products.

Patsy’s Bourbon Balls

1 cup chopped pecans
6 tbsp. Michter’s US*1 Bourbon
½ stick butter
3¾ cups confectioners’ sugar
16 oz. dark chocolate chips

Soak pecans in Michter’s US*1 Bourbon in an airtight container for four days. Flip after the first two days to fully coat the pecans. The pecans should absorb all of the Michter’s US*1 Bourbon. Mix butter, sugar, and pecans. Roll into 1-inch balls and refrigerate overnight. Pour dark chocolate chips into microwave-safe bowl and microwave for about 2½ minutes. Remove chocolate every minute and stir. Dip refrigerated balls into the melted dark chocolate. Place the chocolate-covered bourbon balls in an airtight container and place in freezer until set (just a few minutes). Store in a cool place.

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