Dreaming-of-Islay
Macallan 12 Year Sherry Oak Cask
Single Malt — Highlands, Scotland
Reviewed
August 6, 2017 (edited January 26, 2018)
I've long been a fan of Macallan 12. On the nose, this scotch is a lesson in what sherry finishing can do to complement classic scotch flavors: so much apple (as in apple pie, the dominant note for me), some darker berries, malt, vanilla, and a bit of barrel char. The palate, although a bit thin and watery, has more apple, a clear expression of core malt flavor, and a hint of raisins. The raisins grow in strength in the finish, along with a rich, sweet flavor like an apple turnover, and a faint sherry smoke or sulfur note (like the scent of matches). Unlike some sherried scotches where the sherry sweetness gets too overwhelming and drowns out the malt, I appreciate that Macallan 12 still leaves room for the core scotch to be itself. It isn't complex, but it expresses its flavors with confidence. Bottle this at 46% and at the same price ($65 or so), and it'd be five stars.
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Oh, interesting, that might shift my enthusiasm down a gear -- I'm not generally a huge fan of sweet whiskies, which is part of the reason I prefer scotch to bourbon. But hearing the differing opinions, my basic conclusion is it's something I have to try for myself!
The double cask is sweeter. American oak is generally cheaper. The second maturation probably saves Macallan money, but they advertise it as something extra. I guess it doesn't matter if you like sweeter
@Generously Paul - Haven't gotten a chance, I want to! Looking forward to it.
Have you tried the Double Cask? Same price point and at least a half star better in my opinion