Tastes

The sweetness on entry is cut with a citrus zest and oaky/smoke that makes this FAR more enjoyable than most bourbons. The sweetness morphs into light/dried fruits and floral notes with a medium finish that is nearly perfectly balanced, with just a touch of saltwater. The ABV is much higher than I'd expect, given a general absence of spiciness/burn. Overall, this is by far the best bourbon I've had, although I am partisan to Sherry/Peated scotches. The vanilla isn't overly done as with other bourbons, and the sweetness is more akin to a sherry-cask finish.

The second filtering appears to have completely drained the complexity of this dram, making it a one-trick pony. It is not offending in any way, and it has perhaps the smoothest entry of any whiskey I've ever had. However, the banana/vanilla sweetness never develops into anything more interesting. It's like a flower that starts to blossom, and then dies overnight due to a freeze. The finish is not near as smooth as the entry, which was the only thing this whisky had going for it; I wouldn't describe it as harsh, but it is jarring to have the heat when there was nothing else of note going on. This would be very acceptable as a mixer, but nothing I'd seek to drink neat. The bottle has sat 75% full for nearly a year, and I don't see that changing anytime soon.

This is Halloween/Thanksgiving in a bottle. If Plymouth gin had a baby with Macallan 18, this would be that beautiful creation. The age comes through through the tannins and oaky mouthfeel, which mostly avoids smokiness. The caramel and vanilla meld with the sherry nuttiness, and finish smooth.

Not as approachable as the 12 or 18, but it is also "simple" as the 12 and 18. The Macallan orange notes are turned up slightly, and while sweet, the sweetness is more of a simplistic barley I'd expect in cheaper drams. The vanilla does not mate well with the tangy sweetness. The finish is spicier than either the 12 or the 18, and it retains the Macallan mild smokiness.

Christmas in a bottle! Custard, dried plums with sherry nuttiness, and the classic Macallan citrus and very mild smoke. As expected for an older whisky, there is a decent amount of oak/tannins on the finish, but the bitterness and mild smoke is nicely balanced by the sweetness. This, along with the 12, were indeed the gateway to Scotch. However, the cost has priced most out, as it has doubled since my first tasting.

Very approachable and sweet entry. Sherry influence is made very obvious, but minor zest and spices come through. Overall, a simple yet delicious dram. This, along with the Macallan 18, were indeed the gateway into Scotch.

Slightly spicier on entry and throughout tasting than some other cask strengths, namely Ardbeg's cask series, but much easier than Aberlour's cask series. All tasting performed neat, with NO water added. Entry is very sweet, but its complexity shines, morphing into unlit cigar, leather, then a huge burst of sherry/nuttiness that lingers until the finish. The finish is incredibly cacao-heavy, with mily peat/smoke that rounds out the aftertaste.

Sweet and rich, yet slightly sulphuric, on the entry, it then turns oakey with a sherry ovetone. It finishes sweet and mildly citrusy/fruity, and the light smoke/peat lingers and decays into a dark chocolate.