the best part about this bottle is the discussion it generates. Get scotch and bourbon drinkers together for this one. the American oak is there, but in the background. it's peaked my interest to try more from Macallan, as I am a bourbon drinker. There is a catch with this stuff. Switching between drinks will kill the effect of this double cask. I went from bourbon to this the other day and all I could taste was Sherry.