Tastes

Tasting notes Nose (undiluted): clean, bright and fruity, sultana raisins, oranges, walnuts, vanilla, dark chocolate Palate (undiluted): light to medium-bodied but not without some mouth-coating oiliness, a bit of nuttiness, orange zest, vanilla, baking spices (nutmeg, cloves), dark chocolate Finish: medium length, dark chocolate, espresso, leather, oak spices lingering

The finish is this whisky’s drawback. Two or three more points in the ABV scale would have worked wonders to remedy such a weak finish. It’s worth mentioning that The Macallan 18 year old Double Cask is noticeably better, even at an anemic 43% ABV. Can the difference be chalked up to three more years in wood, or is there something else, as well? Hard to say. On the other hand, The Macallan 15 Years Old Double Cask is better than its Triple Cask sibling, even from years gone by. Bravo. Aside from a weak finish in the more recent 15-year-old Double Cask release, there is that hint of gun powder on the nose to consider. Sulfur is a tricky thing, which, unfortunately, can come with the territory if sherry wood is involved in the aging process. In this case, the note is far from overpowering. But even the (metaphorical) hint of a smoking gun has been known to cause some hands to cover their glasses politely, should a second round be offered. By way of a disclaimer, it should be mentioned that aversion to light sulfur in a whisky’s scent is a matter of opinion. This view is by no means universal, or even definitive.

Nose Good balance. Grapes, honey, dried fruits, orange spice, floral perfume, a little citrus and very present oak wood. Taste Burnt caramel, sweet oak wood, spices and vanilla. Finish Medium, with spices, oak wood, nutmeg and light chocolate.