Davie-Warner
Macallan Double Cask 12 Year
Single Malt — Highland, Scotland
Reviewed
November 22, 2016 (edited September 3, 2021)
Bought on sight upon discovery of this new bottling last month... Nose: sweet apple and raisin-nutty sherry, though less intense than the classic 12. Rich oak and caramel. Hint of salt, almost briny like a very clean oyster.... Immediately identifiable Macallan "humming" quality, you could never hide this in a blind tasting... Palate: intense apple and wine-like astringency on arrival, developing into dark buckwheat honey. Finish: long with noticeable maraschino cherry and a lingering floral note, not quite the Fine Oak 15 "rose" but very satisfying. Simply put, it's the essential 12 year old we know and love with the European sherry toned slightly down, with a touch more American oak added for good measure. An excellent variation in the age-statement range. Dry glass: Malt chocolate ice cream.
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Pranay, believe the significant difference between this new bottling and the Fine Oak series is the latter uses a third, European oak cask aged whisky blended in with the bourbon oak and Sherry casks.
I can't remember off-hand what I paid for the Double Cask 12, but they're so similar, it's up to just how intense you like your sherried malts. To be honest, I'd rather save the dosh toward another Fine Oak 15... 😎
Given the choice between Mac12 and Mac12 Double, what would your preference be, taking into consideration cost, etc?
Other than being younger and a bit sharper this has a much heavier raisin-sherry profile than the Fine Oak 15, it's much closer in character to the classic 12.
Any idea what's the difference between this and the Fine Oak? Both seem to be using Sherry and American casks