Speyside

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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Glenfiddich 18 Year

/ / Review, Scottish Whisky, Speyside /

Glenfiddich Single Malt Scotch Whisky, 18 Years Old
43% ABV/86 Proof
$70 to $75
Available worldwide
Website

What the Distillery Says:
At eighteen years, our single malt is exceptionally smooth and mellow wit notes of oak, apple and cinnamon. Matured in the finest Oloroso sherry and bourbon casks and then married in small batches for remarkable depth and complexity. Judged to be the best 18 Year Old Scotch Whisky in the world.

What Richard Says:
Nose: Rich cream, tobacco, cinnamon crumb cake.
Palate: Very spicy and malty.
Finish: Clean with a slow fade leaving woody, nutty notes.
Comments: This is definitely the Solera’s big brother. Part of it is the 43% bottling strength which I’d like to also see in the 12 and 15 year olds. But mostly the extra years have bee kind to Glenfiddich. It’s smooth, easy to drink, and has some pleasant notable characteristics. Would I call it the “best 18 Year Old Scotch Whisky in the world” you may ask? No, but it’s a good value and you really can’t go wrong with it.
Rating: Stands out

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Glenfiddich 15 Year

/ / Review, Scottish Whisky, Speyside /

Glenfiddich Single Malt Scotch Whisky, 15 Years Old
40% ABV/80 Proof
$40 to $50
Available worldwide
Website

What the Distillery Says:
At fifteen years, rich fruit and notes of spice pervade this characterful single malt. Made using a process unique amongst Scotch whisky distillers it is matured in three types of oak cask: sherry, bourbon, and new oak before being married in our unique Solera vat. This vat is always kept at least half full creating a whisky with deliciously harmonious flavors.

What Richard Says:
Nose: Pears jump out at me followed by pine resin and hard apple cider.
Palate: Very smooth and woody. It’s almost too smooth. I don’t get a lot of defining characteristics.
Finish: Crisp, dry, and very short.
Comments: I would recommend this to fans of Johnnie Walker Gold looking to switch to single malts and save some coin. I find this rather bland. If you’re a new scotch drinker and can’t handle this then scotch may not be for you. There’s a little more to it than the 12 year old but nothing that really makes me want to keep it around.
Rating: Average

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Balvenie Golden Cask

/ / Review, Scottish Whisky, Speyside /

The Balvenie Golden Cask Single Malt Scotch Whisky Aged 14 Years
47.5% ABV/95 Proof
$60 to $65
Travel Retail Exclusive
Website

What the Distillery Says:
“characterised by fruity sweetness and subtle spice”

In the crafting of GoldenCask, Balvenie is carefully aged for many years in traditional oak whisky casks and then transferred into barrels that had previously held golden Caribbean rum for a final period of maturation.

Characterised by fruity sweetness and subtle spice, The Balvenie GoldenCask is only available in Duty Free and is non chill-filtered and bottled at a strength of 47.5% abv.

NOSE: Light and fruity with notes of vanilla and honey. Delicate layers of orange and subtle flora add complexity.
TASTE: Sweet and spicy with a beautiful syrupiness. Chocolate orange and vanilla oak combine with hints of aniseed and liquorice.
FINISH: Long, dry and oaky.

What Richard Says:
Nose: Very light with lots of creamy honey fruit notes that remind me of cognac. Maybe scotch + rum = cognac? (I’m kidding!)
Palate: There is just a hint of sweetness. I’m mostly picking up a spicy smokiness. That’s not really what I expected from a rum cask finished scotch.
Finish: The finish is long with lots of smoky oak.
Comments: I don’t get out of the country too much. I’m not the international man of mystery the internet would lead you to believe. When I do I try to look for travel retail bottlings. A lot of them really are nothing special but I’m sucked in by the exclusivity of only being able to buy them in travel retail. This particular bottling is nice. I enjoy it from time to time but I was really hoping for a little more sweetness. Something closer to the Havana Reserve Glenfiddich 21 Year Old. I would’ve recommended that you pick up a bottle last year but with the new 14 Year old Caribbean Rum Cask as part of their standard line I’m not so sure anymore. I’ll have to grab a bottle and do a side by side to see if this is really just the same thing with 4.5% extra alcohol.
Rating: Stands Out

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