Here I sit, staring lovingly at this bottle that I originally opened back in April at Whiskyfest DC to share with my pals, @Telex and @Generously_Paul, in our hotel room bottle share. I brought the bottle home, poured a few more samples for friends on my mailing list, and other than that the remains of this bottle have sat, unopened, ever since. 3 months of dust on the outside of the bottle and oxidation inside. I gotta get back inside this one. Now, I’ve had bottles of the 10, 15 and 17 year Fine Oak and found them all to be very good. The biggest discrepancy is the cost increase involved in going from the 15 to the 17- it was about $130. It wasn’t worth it. Both of those were 4 star drams, there just wasn’t of an enough increase in quality over those 2 years to justify doubling the price point. Cue this 21 year old- it’s $200 higher than the 17, at $425. Is it worth it? Well, to be blunt- hell yes it is! This is bottled at a standard 43% ABV and is a beautiful orange, gold in the taster. Big, thick and oily legs run down the Glencairn- teasing you like the most athletic stripper you’ve ever slid a fiver under her garter belt. Healthy droplets of water form after a minute or so- this has been blended down a bit. Why Macallan, why? The nose is so delicious. Dried, red berries and chocolate covered orange wedges, vanilla and caramel creme candies and the most luscious, sherry cask notes I think I’ve experienced in a Macallan. Even more so than the Rare Cask. The depth here is mind-blowing. I could nose this one until it evaporated away. Even some wood notes creep in if you keep your nose down in there. Incredible. The palate brings tropical fruits to a level that would make even the most fruity, Caribbean-island mixed drinks jealous. Orange marmalade, brown sugar, vanilla and more sweet sherry notes dance together almost too perfectly. It’s thick and oily on the tongue and actually felt like it stuck to my tongue at one point. The complexity with the wood tannins and slight ABV heat reel you back in and remind you you’re drinking whisky. It’s that instant that I think I fell in love with this dram. The finish is medium length and surprisingly wood forward. Here’s all the casks making their presence known, forming what amounts to the perfect trifecta: fragrant nose, luscious palate and satisfying finish. That’s how a perfect whisky wins the day, my friends. When you find one that does all 3 so well, well I guess you should stop. I can’t stop because I clearly have a problem, lol. Overall, this is hands down the best Macallan I’ve had to this point- and I’ve had quite a few. I can only imagine what the 30 year Fine Oak might taste like, but the $3500 price point makes that a lottery winning purchase only for me. This one, however, gets 5 glorious stars! Find a bottle, buy a pour and experience this one for yourself. It’s worth every penny. Cheers.