Continuing on my exploration through some of Macallan’s releases, next up I have a sample of their Rare Cask Black that was bottled at 48% ABV. The nose is velvety soft leading with a mix of musty grapes, tropical fruit custard and dusty leather-bound books then dark chocolate truffles, dehydrated figs, a very light puff of pipe smoke and cavernous minerality followed by black cherries, apricots and orange blossoms that transitions to ginger, cloves, cardamom and polished antique furniture with medium ethanol burn. The taste is a medium mouthfeel starting with creamy tropical fruits before a mild peppery spice that slowly fades to a mix of musty grapes, vanilla creme brûlée and dusty leather-bound books then a dark chocolate spicy mocha, figgy pudding, light sweet pipe tobacco smoke and cavernous minerality followed by black cherries, apricots and orange blossom that transitions to ginger, cloves, cardamom and polished antique furniture with medium ethanol burn. The finish is long with creamy tropical fruits, dark chocolate covered figs, sour cherries, espresso, light pipe tobacco smoke, ginger, cloves, dusty leather-bound books and polished antique furniture. This is a fantastic dram that the nose is a complex and delightfully composed mix that starts on the sour side before veering towards sweet tropical fruits, dusty well-aged oak, along with rich chocolate, berries, light minerality and a faint smoke that carries over to the palate that has a small stumble with a mild spice before quickly correcting course and finishes with a long lingering finish starting sweet and fading into light smoke, spices and well-aged oak. Comparing this to the Rare Cask 2020 edition, the extra 5% ABV bump has really intensified those flavors and delivered an oilier mouthfeel along with a long finish that was lacking with the Rare Cask 2020 and the peated malt provides a very subtle smoke that could easily be missed.