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Macallan Distillery
Craigellachie
Banffshire
AB38 9RX
+44 1340 871 471

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Owner: The Edrington Group

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Creation date: 1824

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photos

	Macallan
			Sample
O.B.	12 years	17
	Twenties	17
	Thirties	17 1/3
	Forties	17 2/3
	Fifties	17 1/3
	Fine Oak 12 years	17
	Cask Strength	18
	Cask Strength, 10 years	19
	15 years	17
	18 years	18 1/5
	Elegancia	18
Alc-hem-ist	Alc-hem-ist 1990, 15 years		18
	Apple Mac 16 years		17
Douglas Laing	Old Malt Cask, 15 years	18
	Old Malt Cask 25 years	18
Gordon & MacPhail	Speymalt 1999
Jean Boyer	Best Casks of Scotland 1991		18
	Best Casks of Scotland 1998
	Best Casks of Scotland 1991 43°		18
	Best Casks of Scotland 1991 56,4°		18
Scott's Selection	Scott's Selection 1985	17
John McDougall	Golden Cask 1987		17 1/2
Malts of Scotland	1998, bourbon barrel		17

 

 

The Macallan 12 years
Age	12 years
Alcohol percentage	43%
Cask	Sherry Oloroso
Bottler	Official
Price/litre

 

One of the greatest names in whisky. A major. The great name among the Speyside whiskies. Macallan is a concept on it own. The distillery bears the name of "The Macallan" just as Glenlivet which became "The Glenlivet". Despite all this, and despite the quality of the whisky, I quoted it 17. This is indeed a bottom-of-range version. I found some dominant malt hints, and I prefer personally more complex and subtle whiskies.
This 12 years old version is not produced any more by the distillery at the moment.

The sherry nose is rather dry, despite some light vanilla hints on the background, which give it a nice complexity. In the palate, dry sherry dominates, with some slightly acid touches. The palate is less complex than the nose was and the too short finish remains on sherry on a malt background.

The nose is clearly marked by sherry and discrete woody notes. Some hints of plum jam too.
In the palate a kind of slight acidity mixes with the sherry motes and gives the impression that this whisky was nicer when nosing it. The mouth is clearly behind the nose.
The finish, still marked by sherry presents some malt hints too and is relatively long even though it is rather flat.

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Comment by Jimmy Shields

I`am rather new to the world of single malt scotch. If I had started with this bottle I do not think I would have been hooked. The nose I like, is sweet almost creamy. For taste however a little too sherryish and not enough something I don`t know maybe smoke,not very complex (its like i`am always waiting for something to happen that never does).I find the taste develops into a tea taste that stays with the finish which is not that long. Maybe I`am not being fair with this whisky, but when i drink it I keep thinking what it does not have rather than what it has.

Comment by Henrik Johansson

Apperance: Chestnut or very deep copper
Nose: Medium prickle at bottling strength which dulls the impression more than expected. Well sherried, nutty and creamy. Behind that, some winey notes on an oily background. Stewed apples, linen and cardboard. Diluted dram lends more freshness and brings out some of the other European oak associated aromas, like new rubber. Also some apricot creme, nutmeg and ginger. Complex and attractive, yet authorative.
Body: Very firm and smooth, but not very heavyPalate: Sweet and full bodied- marzipan, oak and fruitcake. At first I thought it was less rich than I remember, but after leaving it out to breathe for just a few minutes it seems to be back on form. Well sherried, pleasant and very smooth all around. The finish is lon! g and has a good complexity of flavours, oakiness, spices and deep fruity elements becoming just at tad sulphury towards the very end. Good complexity but still pleasant and easily enjoyable
.90/100

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The Macallan 15 years
Age	15 years
Alcohol percentage	43%
Cask	Sherry Oloroso
Bottler	Official
Price/litre

 

 The typical amber colour characterising malts matured in Oloroso sherry casks and especially the Macallan whiskies is also present in this edition. The sherryish nose is pleasant. Strong spicy fragrances make from this malt a whisky appreciated by the Macallan lovers (they are legion). The pleasant taste misses some subtlety, according to me. I'm not an ardent supporter of Macallan. However, this is a great bottle. I really recommend it.

The nose is rather marked by sherry, with a hint of citrus fruits. The taste is relatively complex, going from orange to green apple, through malt touches. A quite short finish with some spicy and slightly acid hints.

The nose is very marked by sherry with a touch of spices. The mouth reveals toffee hints and the spices are stil present, with touches of fruit. A nice finish, slightly bitter, woody.

The sherry is predominant at the nose which is further rather spiced and reveals a slight touch of citrus fruit. In the mouth, this whisky is first quite dry and bitter, woody, but gets open after a while to reveal nice spicy notes. A nice round finish.

Quite a nice nose, marked by sherry, spices and prune hints. In the palate, sherry dominates as well and nice slightly woody and chocolate notes mix together to produce a pleasant result. The finish is lingering and warm. Even if this is not really a top whisky, it remains quite a good one.

 

 

 

The Macallan Cask Strength
Age	10 years
Alcohol	58,8%
Cask	Sherry Oloroso
Particularity	Cask Strength
Bottler	Official
Price/litre

 

The first nose contact reveals a great whisky. Chocolate touches mixed with slightly spicy fragrances define this bottle. The palate, not hindered by the high alcoholic percentage, detects the Macallan characteristic sherry hints. A superb and very long finish prolongs the pleasure. The very affordable price of this bottling makes it an absolute must in each whisky collection, especially for those who appreciate Speyside whiskies and Cask strengths.

A second tasting just confirmed the first one. The dominant effect of sherry is very present from the very first nosing. The immediate feeling is that this is a good Macallan...

The sherry is very present at the first nosing, and this whisky reveals nice and sweet chocolate hints. Some spices as well. A very nice palate too, where the taste of the malt is mixed with the one of the sherry, with very nice spicy touches and woody , more bitter hints. A nice complexity anyway... And the high percentage of alcohol does not hinder at all. A beautiful finish, between the sweetness of malt and the bitterness of wood. It develops clearly on bitter notes, with some salted hints at the end.

A very interesting nose, slightly pungent, where the woody smells are mixing with those of mushrooms on a vanilla and malty background. Some earth smells, farm hints, sherry and sweet citrus fuit (however without any acidity impression). In the palate, the woody bitterness comes first, quickly followed by nice notes of chocolate, nutty hints on a malted barley background. A very nice finish, lingering, between the woody bitterness and the malty smoothness.

 

Comment by Gundee

The nose is predominantly alcohol and sherry. I was unable to detect much else (perhaps the ever so slightest hint of chocolate?). Taste confirmed the nose. Initial impression on the palate is alcohol and sherry developing to spicey and peppery finish. Medium finish (at least compared to something like a Laphroaig or Lagavulin) lingering pepper and sherry. Lacks complexity and a boring wiskey (unless you're just after an expensive buzz...). Addition of water confirms toned down version of same. All in all a mediocre specimen at best, poor dollar value and one I'd not purchase again.

The Macallan Cask Strength
Age	10 years
Alcohol	58,6%
Cask	Sherry Oloroso
Particularity	Cask Strength
Bottler	Official
Price/litre

An exquisite nose, perfectly balanced revealing all the nuances between chocolate and nut through malted barley and roasted peanuts. The nose is close to perfection. A very light veil af smoke over all the pleasant perfumes described above.
In the palate, a kind of slightly acid and woody sherry, an impression of dryness first, quickly followed by richer notes, still sherry and hints between nut and wood intermixed with the malty sweetness and some light notes of citrus fruit.
The finish is in the same mood. Lingering and warm, reviewing all the fragrances of the palate. A great malt, what a pity there are not more of them like this...
After a blind tasting, what a surprise to discover it is a Macallan Cask Strength. One of the cheapest Macallan and really a very great marvel. No aggressiveness at all despite the high percentage of alcohol, lots of maturity despite its relative young age. Really a revelation. Certainly one of the best quality-price ratio on the market.

 

 

The Macallan Elegancia
Age	12 years
Alcohol percentage	40%
Casks	Sherry Oloroso and Fino
Bottler	Official
Price/litre

 

 Unlike other versions of Macallan where the smell and the taste are clearly dominated by sherry, this bottle is perfectly balanced, between the honey and vanilla hints and some more spicy touches. The whole is rather pleasant. The finish with an average length, extends the pleasure for some short minutes.

A second tasting did confirm the first one. The sometimes exaggerated sherryish hints so characteristic from certain Macallan's is not present here. I thought I was drinking an Edradour. An excellent bottle.

The nose is very good balances, with pleasant sweet nutty and vanilla hints. The elegant balance does not mean any lack at complexity, with discrete wood and cut flower fragrances. In the palate, a clear nut taste with some slightly acid hints (citrus fruits) on a background of slightly bitter malt. A spicy and relatively long finish.

The nose is clear and smooth, slightly spiced vanilla and malt with a touch of wood. A toffee impression with nuts and some sherry hints on the background. In the palate, smoothness dominates at first, with some relatively complex accent, going from malt to sweet citrus fruits, before going on on nice woody hints. A rather long finish, marked by spices.

The nose is clearly marked by sherry, very expressive, pleasant. Slightly pungent with nice nutty notes, and some bitterness. In the palate, a nice mix of bitterness, sweetness and acidity. Hazelnut, malt, a touch of citrus fruit. However, the dominant taste is that of fine wood. A nice finish, smooth and slightly bitter, with a clear presence of sherry.

A very nice nose with excellent although discrete hints of sherry and smooth notes of vanilla and hazelnut.\In the palate, a very pleasant mix of slightly bitter notes (cashew nuts) and fruity ones (plum jam) on a sweet malty background.
The lingering finish is smooth too and the same pleasant sensation due to this mix of sweetness and bitterness is present, prolonging perfectly the nose and mouth sensations.

Comment by Henrik Johansson

Apperance: Deep Gold, attractive
Nose: Very winey (semi-dry white wine I think) at first, then oaky woodiness and spices. Some toffee and a slightly feinty note, green tobacco perhaps. Lime, green tomatoes and some very lightly sherried aromas emerge. The woodiness takes on a sandalwood form and there are some dried fruit in the background, candied oranges and raisins I think. Later, more fresh fruits and red berries. A second dram had more Oloroso sherry aromas.
Body: Medium to light
Palate: Definately on the sweet side. Pretty good weight and intensity. The woodiness carries over, along with some fruity elements and malt extract. Marmelade, wood spice, malted milk and again, a refreshing white wine. The finish is quite long, warming and pleasant.
85/100

 

 

The Macallan 18 years
Age	18 years
Alcohol percentage	43%
Cask	Sherry Oloroso
Bottler	Official
Price/litre

 

The nose recognizes immediately the typical sherry smells of Macallan. The taste is rather sweet, and reveals some smoke hints but is also dominated by the sherry. A great whisky, specially for sherry lovers... Personally, I think it is an excellent whisky, but certainly not my favourite. There are lots of bottlings with a better price-quality ratio. The finish is pleasant and lingering.  

The nose is clearly marked by sherry hints and a touch of hazelnut, the whole being nicely and discretely spiced. In the palate, a rather clear presence of spices (clove) and some slightly spicy notes however dominated by a mix of sherry with very discrete woody notes. A touch of smoke as well. A very interesting finish, recalling the nut taste with a kind of bitterness on the background. The spiced character is not present in the finish.

Quite an intense sherry nose, with all the associated sweetness and richness. Rather bitter coffee hints, a touch of smoke, an exceptional richness. In the palate, the sherry impression remains, mixid with some slightly woody hints, with a kind of rather sweet but clear spices (cloves). A very nice finish, pleasantly bitter, with nutty touches.

Sherry smoothness characterises the first nose. Peppery notes mixed with nice woody and smoky hints, a touch of chocolate follow soon.
The mouth is a real festival of tastes, principally marked by a rather acid sherry and some clear woody notes.
The finish si lingering and keeps the memory of the woody (or even better, unripe walnut) bitterness.

 

 

 

The Macallan Twenties
Age	No age statement
Alcohol percentage	40%
Bottler	Official
Price/litre

 

It is obvious that this is a Macallan, from the very first nosing. The sherry hints are very characteristic of a Macallan. The complexity which is so typical of great Speyside whiskies is not present, and the finish is of average length. The general impression is that this is a very smooth whisky, with a rather plain taste, close to malt. A good whisky.

A quite sweet nose, clearly marked by sherry and which does not announce great surprises with a kind of lack of complexity. In the palate, a prominence of a very sweet (sugared) taste, with sherry hints, but missing some power and complexity, even if there are some woody notes on the background. An interesting and pleasant finish, but this malt does not leave great memories.

The nose is clearly peppered with nice rather fresh floral notes. The mouth is first slightly acid, than sweet and finally a bit woody. Not very complex nor really exciting... It gives a kind of "too short" feeling, some watery impression, but this gets better as some woody notes appear after a while. The finish is rather long, on the same peppery notes than the first nosing.

 

 

 

The Macallan Thirties
Age	No age statement
Alcohol percentage	40%
Bottler	Official
Price/litre

 

The traditional influence of sherry in Macallan's whiskies is not really present in this version, which remains rather discrete. The nose detects some sweet orange and malt hints, and the palate is pleasant, however without the typical complexity of Speyside whiskies. A short finish, sweet and fruity.  

At the third tasting, sherry seemed to be more present, mixed to citrus hints and spices on a slightly smoky background. In the mouth, a bitter taste which develops on citrus notes. A nice finish, rather woody with a memory of smoke.

Nice fruity notes, plums in spirit, spices, pepper and clove. Superb nose with a nice complexity.
The first mouth seems to be behind the nose as complexity and pleasure is concerned, but this gets better quite quickly. However it misses some power, but is nicely complex. Nice cashew notes developing slowly on chocolate without loosing its fruity influences.
The finish is rather long, prolonging perfectly the mouth's pleasure.

 

 

 

The Macallan Forties
Age	No age statement
Alcohol percentage	40%
Bottler	Official
Price/litre

 

 From the very first nosing, a kind of complexity of smells announces a good bottle. The typical Macallan sherry smell is present. Some smoke hints are detected, and the taste is rather pleasant, not too dominated by sherry. The finish is form average length.

The nose reveals clear floral hints on a peaty background, but remains in a kind of monotone register. In the palate, a kind of weakness and an evident lack of character, despite its pleasant fruity notes where smoke and peat mix discretely. A slight taste somewhere between milk chocolate an wood is part of a quite long finish, mixed with some light peaty hints.

A remarkably balanced nose with beautiful though discrete sherry hints, some smoky notes and a touch of refined wood. Floral hints and heather. Just happiness.
The impression in the palate is that this whisky could have more character (probably due to the low percentage of alcohol), but however the cashew nut and chocolate hints are quite pleasant.
The finish is rather long and the same mix of nuts and chocolate seems to dominate here too.

 

 

 

The Macallan Fifties
Age	No age statement
Alcohol percentage	40%
Bottler	Official
Price/litre

 

The first nosing is responsible for strange feelings. Rather complex, on a background of toasted malt mixed with some spices and some hints of nuts... The taste is pleasant, even if it is dominated by a kind of spicy sherry? Sherry in whisky, some like it, other don't. Personally I am not a great fan of sherry, specially if it is dominating. This whisky is however rather complex, and has a remarkable finish, long and warm, even if it simply prolongs the sherry domination feeling.  

A very nice nose, mixing sherry and spices, gloves and some animal flavours (meat). In the mouth the sherry is clearly present and hides other tastes which re left behind. An spicy impression is left however. The nose was quite more interesting than the palate is. The finish is rather long and pleasant, with some hints of wallnut and spicy touches.

Pleasant nose, both malty and spicy, pepper. Hints of ripe fruit and a touch of hazelnut.
In the palate, the association malt-hazelnut is present and nicely balanced. No exaggerated complexity, but quite a clean and very smooth impression.
The finish doesn't contrast with the mouth nor wit the nose. It is rather long but not strongly marked. The hints of hazelnut remain quite present.

 

 

The Macallan 12 years Fine Oak
Age	12 years
Alcohol	40%
Cask	Sherry and bourbon
Bottler	Official
Price/litre

A rather fresh and complex nose. Vanilla and malt, but very discrete, and a touch of ripe fruits (pear?). In the palate, a surprise less but also without any shortage. Where is the great complexity we can expect from such a prestigious distillery? The finish is rather long, with some spicy notes accompanying hints marked by alcohol and dried fruits

A nice fresh nose, slighly peppery with clear hints of cut grass and ripe fruits. In the palate, a kind of complexity, with both acid and sweet fruity hints. A touch of hazelnut on the background. A bit of toffee. No aggressivity, but a touch of acidity. The finish is rather acid and long.

 

 

The Macallan 15 years Old Malt Cask (1988-2003)
Age	15 years
Alcohol percentage	50%
Bottler	Douglas Laing
Price/litre

The complex and slightly spicy nose detects some nut hints hidden behind rather clear sherry notes. In the palate, a very nice complexity as well, slightly dominated by woody touches and evolution on very nice malted, or even chocolate flavoured notes. A very beautiful finish too, where the wood and the sherry are both rather present.

An amazing fresh and fruity nose. Grass and plum, a touch of smoke. In the palate, first some bitterness developing on more acid notes, within a remarkable balance. The mouth is rather complex, with constant switching back and forth between nutty notes (hazelnut) some chocolate hints and the original acidity disappears quite soon. The finish is long and nicely marked by chocolate notes.

 

Macallan Old Malt Cask 1979 Cask #1792
Age	25 years
Alcohol percentage	50%
Bottler	Douglas Laing
Price/litre

A pleasant malty and fruity nose. Nice smoothness and a touch of bitterness mixed with beautiful flower hints.
In the palate, this whisky is more than simply pleasant with this contrast between the smoothness of ripe peach and this unripe walnut impression. Not really complex however and not really spectacular. But really pleasant.
The finish is lingering and prolongs perfectly the mouth impressions.

The Macallan 20 years Scott's selection (1985-2005)
Age	20 years
Alcohol percentage	54,4%
Bottler	Scotts Selection
Price/litre

The nose is rathre fresh with citrus hints (tangerine) and some cut grass. A smell of sherry too, but very discrete. The mouth is first slightly acid, and gets quickly bitter and dry, and the impression of alcohol is rather strong after a while before getting smoother rather quickly. The finish is quite short and slightly tingling.

The nose is clearly marked by some unpleasant yeast hints covering malty smells.
In the palate some citrus fruit notes quickly lose their acidity to develop on smoother malty and chocolate fragrances. The mouth is clearly superior to the nose.
The finish is of medium length and remains on nutty and chocolate notes which give it a nice warmth.

The Macallan Speymalt 1999
Taux d'alcool	46%
Embouteilleur	Gordon & MacPhail
Prix/litre

The Macallan Best casks of Scotland 1991-2006 43%
Age	15 years
Alcohol percentage	43%
Bottler	Jean Boyer

The nose is clearly marked by sherry, but other smells are present as well. A quite pleasant smell of wet wood and a hint of smoke on the background. In the palate, the first impression is as rather dry whisky, and some acid touches complete the palate impressions, before a nice development to something more oily and more roud. Sherry is present too. The finish is relatively acid and woody, while the mouth was surprisingly enough not bitter at all. A good Macallan, even for those who are not great fans of this distillery.

The Macallan Best casks of Scotland 1998-2009
Age	15 years
Alcohol percentage	43%
Bottler	Jean Boyer

The Macallan Best casks of Scotland 1991-2006 56,4%
Age	15 years
Alcohol percentage	56.4%
Bottler	Jean Boyer

A sherry smell, even a bit agressive one, pungent and slightly acid nose. Very fresh and interesting. Less complex than in its 46% version. In the palate, first impression is dry wood, bitter. The alcohol is a bit too present, together with a touch of acidity. The mouth is rather "linear", and the finish is more pleasant, lingering and warm, with hints of cocoa and a memory of sherry.

The Macallan Best Casks of Scotland 1991
Age	13 ans
Embouteilleur	Jean Boyer
Taux d'Alcool	57,5%

Quite an unusual mouth for a Macallan. The sherry, usually so typical for this distillery is not present here. Instead fo sherry, a great smoothness, vanilla and a nice complexity. Some discrete fruity hints and a touch of acidity characterize the smell of this whisky. In the palate, the nose impressions are not really confirmed. A woody impression (new wood?) hiding the other qulities which should exist behind this firt impression, specially nice vanilla hints. The finish is lingering and pleasant. An unexpected but very pleasant whisky. Not really representative of the distillery, but full of qualities. Great contrasts between mouth and nose, the finish confirming the mouth.

The Macallan Golden Cask 1987 Cask 6481
Age	19 years
Bottler	John McDougall
Alcohol percentage	54.7%
Price

A nice nose marked by sherry, on the Macallan way. Some chocolate notes and a touch of smoke. No aggressiveness at all.
In the palate,all the warmth of nice sherry with a slight woody touch. What a pity that the whole is dominated by the alcohol, as this hides all the underlying complexity. Adding some drops of water help a lot.
The finish is lingering and pleasant, marked by a memory of sherry and fine wood. The alcohol feeling remains alas very strong.

A second tasting just a few days later confirmed the nose impressions. Very smooth and pleasantly marked by sherry. A kind of light veil, a touch of moisture smell probably due to the non chill-filtering method seems to even enhance the pleasure.
The palate remains very pleasant too and the dominating character of the alcohol seem to be gone after 2 days since the bottle was first opened. Nice notes, with a light chocolate taste and still the nice sherry feeling.
The finish too seems to be much more "tamed" than the first time.
A good Macallan.

The Macallan Apple Mac
Age	16 years
Bottler	Alchemist
Alcohol percentage	46%
Price/liter

The nose is very fresh and could be the one of an excellent Lowlands. Hay and green apple, hints of smoke.
The mouth is rather complex, dominated by a smooth mix of apples, malt and toffee, and seems quite far away from the nose impressions. Strangely complex and rather far from traditional Macallans.
The finish is pervasive with its after tastes of toffee intermixed with hints of chocolate and nuts. This finish clashes with the rest of the tasting and is close to be unpleasant.

The Macallan 1990 Alchemist
Age	15 years
Bottler	Alchemist
Alcohol percentage	46%
Price/litre

A both fruity and malty nose with quite discrete hints of chocolate.
The mouth is dominated by pleasant notes of cooked plum and chocolate. Amazing mouth, pleasant and rather complex, even if it remains on a quite limited tastes palette.
The finish is lingering and warm, and the memory of chocolate notes remains for long minutes.

The Macallan Malts of Scotland, 1998 Bourbon barrel
Age	10 years
Bottler	Malts of Scotland
Alcohol percentage	54,9%
Price/litre

A clearly fruity nose, with scents of banana and peach. Pleasantly smooth, this nose is really encouraging even if complexity seems to be absent.
The first nose is marked by the alcohol, but fortunately develops soon on nice fruity notes.
Finish is marked by alcohol too. Long and remains pleasant despite the burning impression.
This is certainly not a great Macallan, but this version remains a excellent quality-price ratio.

The Macallan 10 years Fine Oak
Age	10 years
Alcohol	40%
Bottler	Official

 Comment by Henrik Johanssen

Apperance: Bright yellow Gold
Nose: Appeticing scent with a light, vanilla oakiness. Some malty sweetness there as well with very light fruity esters, heather flowers and some ladies perfume. Lemon-zest, akacia honey and a very light moldy wiff are revealed in the diluted nose. Round and fresh overall.
Body: Relatively light, but firm
Palate: Starts out quite light but with good balance. Predominantly cereal, malty hints. An attractive winey, cereal and woody mix is somewhat spoiled by a sensation of something spilled. Even unreduced, this dram feels a little watered down. Having said that, the finish is long and smooth and has some nice mown hay and white oak / vanilla notes. A pleasant aperitif and a very nice whisky, but lacking Macallans typical weightyness.
84/100

The Macallan Speymalt 1988 - 2007
Taux d'alcool	43%
Embouteilleur	Gordon & MacPhail

Comments by Henrik Johansson

Date of tasting: 27/3 2009 (SWS tasting)
Apperance: Like a darker white wine
Nose: The dominant impression is of ripe pears. Smells a little like white wine as well. Soft maltiness, a little grass and cut hay. Pretty bland.
Palate: The pears from the nose carries over. Pleasant, sweet palate with a pretty short finish. Uninteresting but pleasant and tasty.
82/100