ABOUT THIS DRAM

This write-up is taken from the first time this whisky was reviewed by us as Dram P01 on June 4 2017. The score is from a blind tasting, whereas the first review was not blind (and scored only 77.11). Just goes to show how both time and prejudice can affect a score! After discontinuing their age statement releases in Canada some time ago, Macallan strikes back with this interesting variation on their classic 12 year old. They use both American oak and European oak ex sherry casks. Yep, american oak ex-sherry. You read that right. They buy virgin American casks, ship them to Spain, season them with sherry and then ship them to Scotland. Now that's dedication! Macallan is known the world over and shows up in various media. The movies Takers and Skyfall both feature their whisky and so does the TV show Better Call Saul. It is even the official scotch of the Speaker of the House of Commons in the UK. Not sure why that's a thing, but apparently it is. Did you know though that Macallan is actually the third name the distillery has been known by? It started life as Elchies, before changing to Macallan-Glenlivet in the late 19th Century. It was only as recently as 1980 that it became what we all know and love today.  

TASTING NOTES

The nose brought classic sherry notes with subtle vanilla fudge. On the palate, we found Christmas cake, and not the usual dried fruit but the cake and marzipan too. Dried apricots and candied orange rind drifted on the tongue, but certainly not long enough to outstay it's welcome.