Summer Duets Today Macallan


June 21, 2021

	Summer Duets Today Macallan
	How's Macallan doing when it goes back to its former USP, the one that made it what it is, so 'all sherry'? Discuss while we're quaffing these neat little babies…

Macallan 18 yo 'Sherry Oak' (43%, OB, 2019)

I see no vintage here, as if they had abandoned that tradition too. This was matured integrally in casks that had been seasoned with sherry and the price is pretty much a joke if you ask me. I know no friend who's ever bought any of these, I suppose they ship them all to Mars, together with Musk, Bezos et al. Colour: amber. Nose: joking aside, this is a great nose, delicately metallic and smoky at first, then roasted and fruity, with some cereals, maple syrup, roasted raisins, and some kind of smoky muesli. Macadamia nuts, cashews, halva, nougat… Let's remain honest and impartial, this is a great nose for sure. Just not £500-great, but there… Mouth: too bad it's a little too dry, too much on black tea, tobacco, bitter chocolate, toffee… Now it remains very good, with jams chiming in, marmalades, herbal teas… Oranges keep lifting it, a phenomenon that's also to be seen at Dalmore's. Oranges rule! Finish: medium, a tad dry and bitter. A little too much bitter black tea, but once again oranges save it. Comments: I believe we're being a little harsh on Macallan, some expressions are keeping the flame alive and this one sure isn't too far away.
SGP:561 - 87 points.

Let's rummage… Oh, this…

Macallan 15 yo (52.3%, Master of Malts, Darkness!, +/-2015)

This baby's been transferred to '50 litre first-fill Pedro Ximénez casks for an additional 3 months'. All right, that's like using paxarette then, which, after all, did build Macallan's huge reputation. Quite. Let's see… Colour: gold. So, not dark at all. Nose: smoke, warm coffee dregs, sauna oils, hot chocolate, Corinthian raisins… It is true that we aren't far from those older 'Gran Reservas'. Some menthol and liquorice too. With water: walking in an eucalyptus forest on a hot, steamy day. Hints of myrtle, typically ex-active oak. Mouth (neat): I'm afraid everything worked out fine here. Great figs, sultanas, dried bananas, muscat wine, tangerine liqueurs, sweet yellow curry and perhaps even masala, muesli… With water: same plus a few more sweeter spices, cinnamon cookies, some good agricole rum, crushed bananas, a touch of crème brulée… Finish: long, good, just a tad on the oakier side now. That had to happen, given the process they've used, everything comes out in the finish. Comments: blind, this could have been an OB, easily. I suppose all these modern little monsters have been drunk at time of writing.
SGP:561 - 88 points.

Special Bonus! I know we said only duets, but sometimes you just cannot resist a good opportunity. This baby was part of a virtual session I did with LMDW. Good fun, but no Covid is better.

Macallan 1962 (80°proof, OB, Campbell, Hope & King, Rinaldi Italy, circa 1977)

We'll do this quick and only for decoration, as we've already tried this glory quite a few times. This was much probably a 15 years old. Colour: gold. Nose: more mangos than on a mango tree, otherwise tangerines and myriads of tinier aromas. Incredible nose (pipe smoke, oranges, woodruff, maracuja, honeysuckle, fudge, hibiscus, roses, pink grapefruits, old Sauternes, mushrooms, chocolate, coffee, plums, stewed rhubarb, basil, black nougat, peanut butter, peaches, litchis…) Oh boy oh boy… Mouth: yeah these wee soapy tones that may come out from these old bottles from time to time. Otherwise, superb! Finish: long, drier, more on teas. Comments: one of the most extraordinary noses there ever was in Whiskydom, possibly the nose of noses. The palate's more anecdotal. We'll keep our older score, but should we score only noses, we would be approaching the 100-mark here.
SGP:552 - 93 points.

Check the index of all Macallan we've tasted so far