LeeEvolved
Macallan Rare Cask Black
Single Malt — Highlands, Scotland
Reviewed
May 27, 2017 (edited October 21, 2024)
My friend Paul graciously sent me a hearty sample of the travel exclusive Macallan Rare Cask Black back around the holidays. This is a special release that's advertised as combining a total of 100 casks that previously held peated whisky from an undisclosed distillery.
I did a little bit of digging and I'm taking an educated guess that the casks used were from fellow Edrington Group-owned Highland Park. Due to the complete lack of peat, brine and smoke I'd also say that are second or third fill. I could not detect a single hint of peated whisky. This was pretty much identical to the widely released Rare Cask (which is still a phenomenal single malt).
On the nose, it's tons and tons of sherry and dark fruits, figs and raisins. It's a delight to just sit and nose this whisky. Just about any other aspects that should be present: oak, vanilla, cinnamon, etc are all overshadowed by sweet, sherry wine.
The palate is very Macallan: sweet to the point your fillings are tingling. Those dark fruits feel more like a sugary, fruit juice than whisky. It's amazingly smooth with a nice pop of heat at the end from the 48% ABV. It's damn fine.
The finish is medium length, oily and sweet. There's a calm, warming that lasts and urges you to take another sip and another sip. So, I did.
Overall, I gave the original Rare Cask 5 well earned stars and the Rare Cask Black is just as wonderful, but I have to dock something because I was expecting some sort of peat or smoke to make an appearance and it didn't. Thanks to my great friend Paul for finally giving in to my persistence and plopping down the hard earned money to buy a bottle of this. Even more thanks to him for sending me what amounted to 1/5 of the bottle to sample. I would've never been able to acquire this on my own. Even though I sent him some nice whisky in trade for this, I still think I owe him more. Thanks, bro. You. Are. The. Man.
Everyone else- well, I sure as hell recommend you give this one a try if you see if locally. It's as rare as its namesake and worth every penny. 4.75 stars. Cheers.
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@LeeEvolved - I had my chance and came close in late August coming back from Scotland. Heathrow duty free had it for 300 and something pounds. Sorry buddy! :)
@Rick_M actually...I fell asleep early, by 9:30. Tonight will be dram night!!
@Generously_Paul I think the price has gone up a lot now. I saw it recently for $550
@Rick_M_M - ah, when I was researching this whisky prior to writing my review I missed that info and just assumed they used sourced casks, probably from an Edrington-owned distillery. I had never heard or read about any peated Macallan distillate. That’s very cool, though. I now demand to sample this rare, peated Macallan. Make it happen, @Rick_M. You opened this Pandora’s box...
@LeeEvolved - you are correct that the casks can be sourced from anywhere; however, messaging on whisky’s container debunks your Highland Park theory. As follows: “Created from predominantly first fill sherry seasoned oak casks maturing a remarkably rare peated Macallan spirit.”
@LeeEvolved - nice try! :) Also from their website: “This whisky tells a different story of The Macallan spirit and casks, but more than that it tells a story of rarity. Less than 100 casks maturing at The Macallan distillery have contributed to the creation of this out of character whisky. These mysterious casks remained untouched in the dark warehouses of The Macallan under the watchful eye of our Master Whisky Maker, until he felt they were ready to be released.”
@Rick_M - wait a minute. The fact it’s single malt shouldn’t have anything to do with where the casks were sourced, right? All the term single malt determines is that it’s actually only malt from a single distillery. I don’t question that it’s Macallan whisky in the Rare Black- I’m assuming the casks were from some other distillery owned by Edrington. Putting Macallan whisky into ex-Highland Park casks doesn’t make it not a Macallan single malt. I thought that is how they described the product? They used casks that once held peated whisky, not necessarily THEIR peated whisky. Now I’m confusing myself lol
@PBMichiganWolverine - you get a pass because last night was dram night for you. :)
From their website: “Smoky Macallan is rare - there is very little in existence - and once used these casks will be no more. Unexpected and distinctive in flavor with full bodied richness from the Macallan spirit, Rare Cask Black is an unusual smoky spirit that tells a story of creativity and innovation.”
@LeeEvolved - well done! Their website claims to have had them hidden away.
@Rick_M_M - the fact that Macallan refers to this as single malt indicates the barrels used for Rare Black actually came from the Macallan distillery and not some “undisclosed ones”? If that’s the case, where is the peated whisky Macallan made that was once contained in the Rare Black casks? I don’t know, @Rick_M - I just woke up from working the night shift lol
@LeeEvolved - for a hint, check out my longest comment under your review of Ardbeg An Oa and report back. :)
@Rick_M - uh, the fact I referred to someone as gracious instead of by his de facto nomenclature? Wow, now my brain hurts.
@Rick_M improper use of syntax?
@LeeEvolved - do you see anything unusual in your 1st paragraph? :)
Gorramit Lee! You know how I am with Macallan. This review isn't making things any better...
The both of you are KILLING ME. I must try this whisky!
To anyone who frequents the international travel arena, if you see this and have the means, buy it. Lack of peat of not, this is some of the best (although it is also some of the sweetest) Scotch I've had. So glad you liked it Lee.