Speyside

The Macallan Terra
Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky

43.8% ABV
$165-$180
Website

What the Distillery Says

– The Quest Collection –
Each single malt within the range is an exploration of flavor and texture, from vibrant and fresh through to rich and intense, concluding with a whisky that signifies the essence of The Macallan. The Macallan Terra represents the story of discovery in the Quest Collection journey in this balanced and complex whisky.

A complex, yet balanced single malt, with a distinctive character of toffee, sweet dried fruit and rich wood spices.

A DEFINING MOMENT
The Macallan Terra tells the story of discovery through a complex, yet balanced single malt, aged in exclusively selected first fill sherry-seasoned oak casks, whose journey spans 10,000 miles.

Matured exclusively in first-fill European and first-fill American oak casks sourced from two of the most distinguished family cooperages, The Macallan Terra honours the very best of sherry seasoned oak from both continents. Celebrating the wonders of spirit maturation this is a whisky with a distinctive character of toffee, sweet dried fruit and rich wood spices, that reveals the intensity of first-fill oak that inspires our quest.

Displaying the bark of the oak tree, The Macallan Terra marks the discovery of the journey, grounded in a defining moment.

THE EXPERIENCE
COLOR: Sunset Orange
NOSE: Dried fruits are tempered by lemon zest, toffee and light ginger. Aged oak rises.
PALATE: Sweet dried fruits, subtle tones of ripening apple. Heavy and fresh on the palate.
FINISH: Medium length. Dried fruit and wood spices.

What Gary Says

Nose:  Rich, thick dark fruits with some lighter notes of lemon, caramel, meaty notes of boiled cabbage and tobacco.
Palate:  Sweet and fruity with apples and citrus notes, a spicy zip, savory notes with cloves and sultanas.
Finish:  Moderately long, drying with plums and spices.
Comments:  Another very nice dram – a bit more vegetal and earthy compared to The Macallan Edition No. 2, but not a departure from the style of Macallan. Rather enjoy that difference, and think I’d prefer this over that – although not sure I like this enough to fork over the asking price.

Rating: Stands Out

The Macallan Edition No. 2
Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky

48.2% ABV
$120-$150
Website

What the Distillery Says

– The Edition Series –
A unique selection of oak cask styles are combined to yield a new limited edition expression each year. A characterful single malt, Edition No. 2 showcases our extraordinary commitment to sourcing and selecting only the very best oak casks for The Macallan.

Four extraordinary characters, one exceptional single malt.

DEEP AND RICH
A creative collaboration between our Master Whisky Maker and the three Roca brothers – co-founders of world-renowned restaurant, El Celler de Can Roca – Edition No. 2 unites these four masters in one spirit.
The distinctive and dynamic character of Edition No. 2 has been shaped not only by the use of seven exceptional oak cask types from four different bodegas but by the creative spirit of each of the four collaborators; combining flavors to reflect each of their distinctive personalities in the resulting whisky.

THE EXPERIENCE
COLOUR: Golden Syrup
NOSE: Treacle, ginger, toffee apples and rich fruits. Layers of vanilla open into tropical fruits and subtle green wood.
PALATE: Warm with spice as cracked black pepper and cloves join with hints of chocolate, brown sugar, oak and nuts. Finally, liquorice and brandy snaps come through.
FINISH: Full, slow, warm and wonderfully viscous.

What Gary Says

Nose:  Thick sherry, stewed dark fruits, musty spice, oak, sandalwood, fruit cake, dulce de leche, hints of apple and leather.
Palate:  Sweet with sherried fruit, honey, vanilla, clove, cinnamon, cocoa, oak, bit of pepper and anise.
Finish:  Moderately long, drying with chocolate, raisins and sherry.
Comments:  A nice dram – fully of sherried fruit but also a fair amount of spice notes. Well balanced overall, and what you’d come to expect from. I tried this along side The Macallan Terra, and found this to be sweeter (but unfortunately didn’t have any more readily available Macallan on hand for a side by side).

Rating: Stands Out