Review: The Macallan 12 years Double Cask

"So, get this," Roger peers closer at the two day old New York Times, as he is too vain to get glasses, and continues.  "The Clemson Tigers won the national college football championship right?"

"Yup," I say only wishing I could have watched some of it, but family and work life is very busy at this point for me or should I say unbalanced.  I envision a retirement where Saturdays are devoted to college football and Sundays to NFL.  Haven't broached that retirement vision with my Significant Other though.  Gotta have dreams, aim high they say.

"Trump fetes the team at the White House.  This is what he says: 'We ordered American fast food, paid for by me.  Lots of hamburgers, lots of pizza.'  He bought Wendys, Burger King and McDonalds!  I mean for chrissakes.  It's the White House."

"They are college students.  He's giving them what they want.  When I was 21, a burger was the centre piece of my diet."  No doubt, Roger would be thinking foie gras on a baguette with white pepper should be served to a winning football team, but this just reinforces for me that Roger and his democrats are out of touch with Main Street.   If Obama served burgers and fries the Times and the New Yorker on his rustic coffee table would have headlines celebrating such a move as in touch with college and ordinary people.  Trump does it and liberal heads explode.

"What's gonna happen after the Super Bowl?  Have Hooters or Twin Peaks cater the White House reception for the winning team?"

'Limousine liberal' Roger and I didn't see eye to eye on politics, but I didn't help bridge the gulf with my view that Trump is really an acolyte of Andy Kaufman, performing the greatest performance art act of all time.  Fortunately, sitting between us on his chic farmhouse coffee table that Saturday afternoon were two bottles of Macallan 12 Double Cask capable of mediating our political differences.

So, here's the deal.  In the last couple of years, I have not been a fan of The Macallan distillery because for a time they had stopped distributing in Canada age statement whiskies and had moved to a color scheme of younger, inferior but still high priced malts.  Think the NAS '1824 Series' with the Gold, Amber, Ruby and Sienna releases.  Gold was terrible and Sienna was the only impressive one of the lot, but super expensive.  Macallan also put out a 10 year old Fine Oak that was horrid and well borderline rancid.

The Macallan is owned by the Edrington Group who I think have really been suffering from a case of identity crisis.  Can't really commit fully to age statement whiskies and so release some no age statement stuff but still hold on to the old 12 year sherry wood and some age statement Fine Oak stuff.

So, I found myself at Spec's, a huge liquor retailer in Houston, in early December.  I was there for an NFL game at the generous invitation of my cousin and her husband, Greg.  Sitting on a shelf amongst all the brands preening for my attention was The Macallan 12 year old Sherry Wood.  I bought it, got it back to my cousin's house, pulled the cork poolside and had a sip.  It was boring.  A balanced, pleasant but oh so boring.  No zing, no panache, nuthin'.  Americans love Macallan.  I mean really love it.  Huge sales in the USA.

Christmas arrives in Canada and Greg, up here for a visit, gifts me a bottle of The Macallan Double Cask 12 years from Texas.  I smile, accept graciously thinking 'ahh shit this will be another super boring malt.'

But, it's not.  This Double Cask is the Clemson Tigers of the 12 year old malts.

Edrington takes new American oak and sends it to Spain.  There they build the casks.  Obviously, the newly made casks have not held bourbon.  Instead, the virgin American oak is filled with sherry for a while.  Not sure how long the sherry is in the barrel because of highly guarded proprietary secrets of Edrington, plus we are not exactly chummy, me a lowly conservative blogger and them a high minded multinational.

In any case, the sherry is eventually emptied out and the casks are shipped to Speyside.  At the distillery, in goes Macallan spirit.  Thereafter, These seasoned sherry casks now holding Macallan spirit are blended with other Macallan spirit that aged in their traditional European oak.  What you end up with then is a malt aged partly in American oak and then European.  Hence, double cask.  Let's have a taste friend:

The Macallan 12 years 'Double Cask'

ABV
43%

Age Statement
12 years

Category
Single Malt

Region
Speyside

Nose (undiluted)
Sherry for sure, but its rich, high quality, red fruit, and then the oak and vanilla.

Palate (undiluted)
Nice balance between sherry and oak; the oak is unique and complex.  Spices of thyme and tarragon come to mind.  High quality oak for sure.  Creamy notes too.  English cream follows the sherried entry onto the palate.  Not as sherried as the sherry oak 12 years.

Finish (undiluted)
More cream, wood char, limestone oddly enough but totally in a good way, spring water, red apple and some nutmeg.



General Impressions
This is really good!  It has restored my faith in the brand.  So excited was I upon discovering this fine malt, I went to my local liquor emporium in Canada and bought two more bottles.  One night I open one of those and have a dram and to my dismay it is toned down, flatter, thinner, and much less complex.  What has happened?  I am baffled. Looking at the bottle bought in Canada I see it is bottled at 40% whereas the American release is at 43% and that in my opinion makes a big difference.  Look closely at my photo above of the two bottles and notice the differing ABVs.  Why the discrepancy?  An industry insider says bottling ABV levels are according to regional tastes.  Another insider says its all about taxes.  Some regions tax higher ABVs higher.  So, those high tax regions sometimes get lower ABV malts to keep the price a little less.

Damn!

I hold the American bottle up to Roger as proof Trump may indeed be making America great again!




Jason Debly

The Macallan 18 yr old Sherry version - Single Malt Scotch Review

The Macallan Distillery is located in the Speyside region of Scotland. Established in the 19th century, needless to say, this is another distiller with a long track record and tradition of producing fine single malt scotch.This distillery is well known for producing a scotch which is aged in Spanisk oak casks that had previously held sherry for a couple of years. As I mentioned in my review of the 12 year old, the sherry soaked Spanish wood imparts its flavor into the Macallan spirit that is aged in these casks for many years. The result is a very sherried scotch. If you do not drink sherry and therefore unsure what is meant by this term (sherry), try this whisky and you will come face to face with the flavor of sherry as found in whisky.The Macallan Distillery has what it calls Sherry Oak Series which is comprised of several different scotches that differ in terms of aging. They are: 7, 10, 12, 18, 25, & 30 years old. And guess what? The price adjusts upwards as they progress in age. It will come as no surprise that the quality is commensurate with age too.

Suggested Setting
The Macallan 18yr. old is not intended for barbecues or throwing darts with the guys out in the garage. This is a single malt that should be carefully sampled in the quiet of one's home when all the distractions of life are at bay. Maybe by the fireplace (if you've got one), on a cold winter's night, watching the snowfall cloud the street lights. Having set up the scene, lets move to the actual serving.

Suggested Serving
In a whisky glass or a tumbler pour a small amount and swirl. This is drinking "neat" or "straight up" as others might put it. If your preference is to add water then I recommend distilled water, but only a drop or two. This will open up some flavours and aromas. I would recommend against adding ice. Ice dilutes the scotch and a lot of its complexity and the many nuances of flavours available. If you are a casual drinker of scotch and always add lots of ice or even a cube, there are a lot of cheaper single malts and blends that will meet your requirements. To add ice to this scotch is an expensive proposition because within ten minutes you will have diluted it such that its really distored in terms of what you will taste. If you like the watered down taste, again choose something cheaper like "Famous Grouse", the #1 selling scotch blend in Scotland. By the way, its key ingredients are the Macallan and Highland Park. Add all the ice of water you want to a tumbler of "Famous Grouse" as it only costs around $20 a bottle.

Nose
Sherry and brandy. A fine bouquet that tells you a treat awaits. Nosing this can go on for quite a while. You will not detect much if any peat scents wafting upward.

Palate
Take a little sip and hold it in your mouth for a second. You will note thick, rich sun beams of sherry, concentrated sweet berries like a big Napa cabernet sauvignon (think Caymus or Cakebread) building towards a crescendo of oak. This is a scotch of great complexity, body and above all, concentration of dark fruit flavors.

Finish
The 'finish' is a term referring to how long the flavor lingers and how it concludes before leaving the palate entirely. In this case, the Macallan 18yr old provides the dry yet sweet taste of oak, ginger and smoke lingering long after you have swallowed that tiny sip. The finish is excellent.

General Impressions
This is a high quality single malt scotch. If you are familiar with the 12 year old Macallan, then you can think of the 18yr old as simply having all the attributes the 12 yr old lacks. The 12 has the flavour of sherry and smoke but lacks the sophistication, refinement and dark berry fruit. The 18 delivers what the palate of the 12 yr old promises but can't come good for. If I were to sum up the 18 in a word, it would be "concentration." Concentration of sherry/smoke and berry flavours in an intriguing fashion.

Cheers!


Jason Debly
© Jason Debly, 2009-2011. All rights reserved.

The Macallan 15 yr old Fine Oak - Single Malt Scotch Review

Background
The Macallan distillery, the producer of a world famous single malt scotch is located in the Speyside region of Scotland. Although this distillery has a long history in Scotland, as far back as 1824 (and probably before that on an illegal basis), the single malt scotch was not available outside of Scotland until 1980.

Before 1980, the spirit was sold in the country as a single malt and the vast majority of the spirit was sold to other companies that would blend the Macallan with other single malts and grain whisky in order to produce a scotch blend. A notable example is the Famous Grouse Scotch blend. The Macallan is a key single malt in that blend and quite noticeable.  In 1980, the owners of the brand started exporting the malt.  Macallan was instantly popular. 

This is due to the unique flavor profile, one that is dominated by sherry. Production of this spirit involves storing it in oak casks that previously held Spanish sherry. In 2004 a new product line was introduced entitled "Fine Oak." This spirit is stored in European (Spain) sherry oak casks, but then it is transferred to American oak sherry casks and finally to American oak casks that previously held bourbon. This triple cask maturation of the spirit produces the 15 yr old Fine Oak.

Suggested Serving
This is an expensive single malt, so it goes without saying that is definitely not appropriate to use this in mixed drinks of any kind. If you want 'Rob Roy' or add soda, use Johnnie Walker Red. That said, how one enjoys their single malt scotch is up to the individual's personal taste. 

Neat (nothing added) is certainly appropriate. Take a little sip, let it roll on the tongue before swallowing. 

A little water, by little, I mean a drop or two of distilled or artesian water is certainly acceptable.  

Ice? A rather expensive proposition to dilute this malt, but many consumers like ice.  In any event, as it melts after about two minutes, a sip deliver a much softened flavor. If you choose ice, one cube only, no more than that because the drink will be overly diluted (some would argue a single cube does irreparable damage to the flavor profile).

Nose (undiluted)
Lots of vanilla and mango notes.

Palate (undiluted)
It goes without saying that sherry and oak are major adornments of the flavor profile. This oak is similar to a Californian red wine like Silver Oak. Unlike most scotch, there is a wine like flavor and texture to this that initially is very pleasing but unfortunately becomes prune-like the longer it is lolled around on one's tongue. There are fruit flavors at play also, but not of the citrus variety, but rather raisin, cooked apple and bruised tangerine. The flavors are delicately held together.

Finish (undiluted)
The cooked fruit, or warm fruit cup continues into the finish with a little spice and then disappears. The flavor does not remain long. Not a short finish, but I was expecting something longer lingering on the palate after it is downed.

General Impressions
This is basically a sherried scotch with lots of toasted oak flavor that moves towards an assortment of cooked fruits. There is a wine-like, prune oriented end to the tasting experience that I do not particularly enjoy.  As I drink this, I think to myself that the standard sherried 12 year old Macallan is better and cheaper to boot.

You will not offend anyone by serving it to them. They will enjoy a good quality single malt, but it will be on your dime. From a purely taste perspective, this is flavorful, distinguished, but ultimately a little flawed with respect to the cooked dark fruit notes. The reason I cannot recommend this single malt is because the price makes it unreasonable. It is too expensive for what it provides. The 12 yr, sherried version is cheaper and in my humble opinion, better.  Glendronach 12 or 15 would better choices for those seeking sherried Scotch whiskies.  

If you are seeking a show-stopper of a single malt, then pass this one by and go directly to the Macallan 18yr old sherry oak (not the fine oak).  The 18 yr old sherried bottling provides the quintessential Macallan experience. Please note there is a 18yr old Fine Oak, and I have not tried it, and therefore can't recommend it.The bottom line is I would not buy this one again because of the price and the unpleasant cooked fruit notes on the finish.

I revisited this malt a few years later and you can read that review here.

Cheers!



Jason Debly




© Jason Debly, 2009-2013. All rights reserved.

The Macallan 12 yr old - Single Malt Scotch Review

A Little History

The Macallan 12 year old is a classic Speyside single malt scotch that has a history that can be traced back to 1824. Alexander Reid obtained a licence to distill whisky and that was the beginning. In those days, farmers like Reid used to distil whisky on their own, without licence (which was just a form of taxation) from barley they grew with water from the river Spey.Over subsequent years, the Macallan distillery would change hands many times, initially between farmers, and later between corporations dedicated to distributing scotch. Presently, it is owned by a company, the Edrington Group, who make sure quality is very line.

The Macallan 12 yr old Sherry Oak has won numerous awards over the years and is one of the most highly regarded single malts by the conossieurs. The public has chimed in its support too by paying a higher than average price and seemingly doing so willingly, as it is a beverage enjoying strong sales.

Nose

Sherry and oak, which is not surprising as the scotch acquired its sherry scent and flavour profile by way of being aged in oak casks from Jerez, Spain which previously stored sherry.

Palate

A mouth filling, full-bodied scotch that is rich and luxurious. The dominany flavour is sherry, which is accented with oak and some smoke. Not detecting any peat or heather notes in this dram. The sherry flavour is also complimented by orange rind, spicy cinamon and even some cream.

Finish

Spicy sherry enveloped in smoke and tobacco round out the tasting experience which lingers nicely.ImpressionsThis is a high quality single malt scotch. It is not to be gulped down at a party or when one's mind is distracted with perfunctory chit-chat at a social engagement. This is to be reserved for the fireside chat with someone you respect who might, if you are lucky impart some wisdom between pensive sips of this wonderful dram.Some may not like this if they are seeking a lot of peat and heather in their scotch. Not to be found here. Instead, if you love the taste of sherry in scotch, this is for you. If you are unsure what sherry tastes like in the context of scotch, this is the definitive "sherry bomb" to sip and study.While I enjoy this single malt, it is not something that I can drink several nights in a row because it can get to be a bit one dimensional. Its great, but drink too much of it, and it will lose its mystery a little to quickly.

Cheers!


Jason Debly

© Jason Debly, 2009 - 2011. All rights reserved.