soonershrink
Macallan Classic Cut (2019 Release)
Single Malt — Highlands, Scotland
Reviewed
April 6, 2022 (edited April 9, 2022)
Traded a bottle of Blanton's for this. Was half-expecting to be disappointed, but I read enough reviews to feel fairly comfortable with the trade. The nose is a blast of raisin. I can also pick up some dark chocolate and orange. The palate brings honey, jammy red fruit, raisin, dark chocolate, and a little wisp of gunsmoke. Here it feels more like a feature than a flaw. I didn't like the sulfur in the 12 year Sherry Oak, but the little bit I notice here I experience as complexity. The proof is perfect for me, full flavored, not hot, not watery. Turns out Macallan isn’t all overpriced garbage, although I effectively only paid $60 for this. Also, this is the 2019 release, and I’ve heard the more recent Classic Cut releases haven’t been as good.
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@Scott_E @bigwhitemike the 2018 and 2017 might have been the last and only good ones made by Macallan which were also affordable ( as in less than $110).
@bigwhitemike lol. I hope I get to it first but alas I fear you may win out.
@PBMichiganWolverine @Scott_E. Recently had the 2018 and very much enjoyed. A great little store by me had an entire rack of the 2017 original release at/near msrp (they occasionally hold some portion of annual releases and stock the shelves at unexpected times, such as many year ago bookers, etc). Needless to say I bought a couple and have pretty high hopes as it was the inaugural release and closest kin to the original “cask strength” it replaced… I’m sure the rebranding was a strategy to back off the proof requirement, thus the recent releases are clearly not even close to CS (and also widely regarded as inferior). Hope it’s tasty - we’ll see who cracks it open first!
@Scott_E that was probably the first one I guess. Probably better than 2018 and 2019
@PBMichiganWolverine @soonershrink a few years ago I bought the 2017 CC. Haven’t opened it yet. Bought it because of the reviews. Not sure how that vintage compare to its 2018/2019?
Contemporary Macallan seems to be is very inconsistent. The Triple Wood range in particular has been all over the place and the Classic Cuts are variable but when they are good they are very good. The recent 15 yo Double Cask was lovely and I liked the 12 yo sherry oak cask, but yes it had a stain of sulphur. US$60 for this one is a great deal.
@soonershrink i’ve also read reviews where it seemed 2018 and 2019 were really good. Later releases were supposedly horrible. For $65, you got a great deal.
Nice review, sounds wonderful