Macallan 18 Year Sherry Oak Cask

Rich, opulent, tons of dried fruit (dates) and sherry, but refined with just the right amount of char/bitterness to provide balance to the whole. Very nice. The price is insane, though. You can get two Highland Park 18s for the price of one of these where I live. Not a chance.

I was at the old alma mater this week conducting on campus interviews for work, which was a good excuse to try some new whiskies. Last night, our recruiting team dined at a restaurant with a $100 per person minimum. After ordering food, the waiter informed us that we were still well below our minimum, so I decided to do my part. For the Firm, of course. I figured I’d start with something that I expected would be both good and overpriced. If you are reading this and immediately think Macallan, yes, you would be correct. Age: 18 years Abv: 43% Setting: Neat in a tumbler while at dinner Nose:* Traditional sherry nose (no surprise here). Fruitcake, toffee, raisins, nuts, and a note I’ll call “funk” (not a bad smell – it’s just…. Different). Outside of the funk, it smells pretty similar to the 12. **(22/25 points) Taste: Pretty much the same as above, with some white grapes and baking spices showing up. (44/50 points) Finish: Medium length and smooth. (21/25) points) Conclusion: This was enjoyable. It’s better than the 12, but I wouldn’t say it’s all that much better. Quite friendly and approachable, I can see why Macallan remains popular with the casual whisky drinking crowd. For the price, this is an easy pass for me, although I’ll gladly drink it when someone else is paying. 87/100

I’m just not wired to be a fan of Macallan, but this is definitely the best I’ve tasted of their lineup. A very good whiskey without as much complexity as I expected, just a smooth floral sweetness. Reminds me more of bourbon than scotch, with a calmer bite.