The Collector’s Cabinet

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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Bunnahabhain 12 Year Old

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

Bunnahabhain 12 Year Old Single Islay Malt Scotch Whisky
40% ABV/80 Proof
$40 to $45
Collectible (Old Version)
Website

What the Distillery Says:
The nose offers a fresh and aromatic experience with a subtle whiff of smoke floating through the air. The taste starts with a light fruit and nut appeal that leads to a spectacular malty sweetness, finishing into a beautifully rich full-bodied, lingering experience.

What Richard Says:
Nose: Slightly smokey and a little sweet.
Palate: Licorice and fennel seed jump out at first. A mild earthy scotch develops with a little peat smoke around the edges. It’s also nutty and a little salty.
Finish: The finish fades to something reminiscent of fresh straw and black pepper with a hint of peat.
Comments: If you go out now and buy a bottle of Bunnahabhain 12 Year Old now this is not what you’ll get. They now bottle it un-chillfiltered and a little north of 46% ABV. I haven’t tried the newer version just yet but I hear it’s a slight improvement over the original. In general I feel that Bunnahabhain gets overlooked in this day of uber-peat obsession. It’s a lightly peated Islay that isn’t going to change your religion or anything but it’s a nice middle of the road dram that’s not disappointing.
Rating: Average

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Highland Park 16 Year

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

Highland Park Single Malt Scotch Whiskey Aged 16 Years
40% ABV/80 Proof
$100
Collectible (Previously Travel Retail Exclusive)

What the Distillery Says:
This variant of Highland Park was created exclusively for global travel retail and duty free markets and was first released in October 2005, it was withdrawn in April 2010. Highland Park 16 Year Old is gloriously smooth, sweet single malt with an island-infused flavour and a rich smokey finish.

Tasting Notes

Appearance:Natural colour, clear and bright
Nose:Sherried smoke peat, spicy
Palate:Rich, full flavour, smokey heather honey
Finish:Rich, long medium sweet then medium dry

Highland Park 16 Year Old has an emphatic honeyed sweetness on the nose with notes of citrus fruits and sea spray. On the palate this whisky tingles the front of the tongue then immediately makes the mouth water, leaving a rich smokey sensation.

What Richard Says:
Nose: Much more earthy and sherried than the 1994. Citrus and vanilla.
Palate: Not nearly as sweet as the 1994. Smokey and herbal/vegetal come to mind. A little bitter.
Finish: Dry. Again very little in common with the 1994.
Comments: This fella was discontinued in 2010 and replaced by the 1994 vintage as part of the duty free/travel retail range. I personally think it’s a very big improvement. There’s nothing about this that makes me want to drop the $100+ to scrounge up a bottle.
Rating: Average

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Four Roses Mariage 2008

/ / Bourbon, Review, The Collector's Cabinet /

Four Roses Mariage Collection 2008 Release Barrel Strength Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey
53.9% ABV/107.8 Proof
$70
Collectible

What the Distillery Says:
2008 is the 120th anniversary of the Four Roses name. We’re celebrating with an exquisite limited edition small batch Bourbon – the first release in our Mariage Collection. From time to time, our Master Distiller will select a few exceptional barrels from our 10 Bourbon recipes and marry them by hand. He has married two to honor the day our Founder, Paul Jones, Jr., proposed to a beautiful Southern Belle. She replied that if her answer were “Yes,” she would wear a corsage of roses to the upcoming ball. Paul Jones waited excitedly the night. When she arrived, she wore a corsage of four red roses. He named his Bourbon “Four Roses” as a symbol of his passion for her.

What Richard Says:
Nose: Vanilla, candied apple, and berries
Palate: Sweet and spicy, like dipping a sugar cube in a Szechuan hot pot. The flavor is all spice, candied fruit, and berries.
Finish: Very oaky on the finish and all the heat on the palate dies down on the finish. Impressive for a barrel strength bourbon.
Comments: This particular mariage was a recipe of OBSV aged 13 years and 5 months mixed with a recipe of OESK aged 10 years and 10 months. No, this is no longer in production. There were two iterations of the Mariage release over 2008 and 2009. Beginning in 2010 it is now a “Limited Edition Small Batch” release. That just means they are using more than two recipes per bottling. This one was really very nice and call out saying “this is what small batch bourbon should taste like.” I love it. I’m sad that mine is all gone. Given the opportunity you should try it.
Rating: Must Try

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Wild Turkey American Spirit

/ / Bourbon, Review, The Collector's Cabinet /

Wild Turkey American Spirit 15 Year Old Bourbon, Bottled in Bond
50% ABV/100 Proof
Originally – $100
Collectible

What the Distillery Says:
Created by legendary master distiller Jimmy Russell and his son, associate distiller Eddie Russell, American Spirit is bottled at bond proof, in a super premium package, and limited to just 24,000 bottles globally. Bourbon is a true American innovation and the US Senate passed a resolution officially declaring September 2007 National Bourbon Heritage Month. Our American Spirit was released to coincide with this momentous occasion.

What Richard Says:
Nose: The nose is very rich and smooth with lots of cinnamon and vanilla. Water opens up the oak on nose.
Palate: I get a lot of molasses cookies and mint sprigs with vanilla. A little water really makes this one sing. The palate turns very creamy.
Finish: The finish is amazingly smooth given the BIB proof.
Comments: This is sadly the last of my bottle. It was almost gone and so Matt and I had to hurry up and review it. No more to be found around me. I challenge anyone who says they don’t like Wild Turkey to try this if they can. Plus, it’s bottle in bond! You just don’t see enough of those anymore.
Rating: Must Try

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