consamp
Macallan Edition No. 2
Single Malt — Highlands, Scotland
Reviewed
October 5, 2018 (edited May 22, 2019)
The quest to diversify my growing collection of whisky has continued as I finally broke down and bought my first bottle of Macallan. After hearing so many people complain they are not worth the money and not wanting to pay for their aggressive marketing campaign I stayed away as long as I could.
I was a convert to scotch early this summer after drinking exclusively bourbon and beer for the past five years. My introduction to scotch was Lagavulin 16 so peaty whisky is what I consider my “home” and first love. Sweetness was something I associated with the corn from bourbon and was not something I had been looking for in this new found hobby of buying and tasting scotch. Holy hell have I been missing out.
The nose may have brought me to my knees had I smelled this for the first time while standing. Chocolate, vanilla, wood, berries, and honey. The shock came from just how sharp and in your face the scent hit me. It is the exact opposite of a Laphroaig/Ardbeg in regards to flavor/scent profile but I’ll be damned if the volume of this isn’t turned up to eleven as well. I think I smelled this for ten minutes before taking my first sip. The wood and vanilla really come across on the palate well. The sweetness is not as strong as the palate suggests but I did get pear and cinnamon on the finish. I would have guessed this was a 40-43 ABV but I appreciate the Macallan clocking in just over 48 ABV.
I don’t know if I just got lucky with this bottle or if I am really loving strong sherry finished whiskys now (my only previous experience is the Glenfarclas 12 and 25). The store had nine more of this edition and I may pick up another bottle as reserve.
Any recommendations for sweeter drams are very welcome as I prepare for another trek to the store to see what else I may be missing out on.
4.75/5
109.0
USD
per
Bottle
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Good review :-). I'm with PBM. Go for the Glendronach 18
@LeeEvolved @Generously_Paul at least it’s not as bad as me...I’ll get a call from the local homeless charity asking if I want to donate any old valuable whiskies. They were accidentally given a few, in old clothes bins.
@PBMichiganWolverine - I slipped up about a year ago and told @Generously_Paul that I would probably make him the whisky benefactor in my will. Needless to say, I believe that’s what’s inspired him the most. “Yeahyeahyeah, get one of those. You’re probably gonna want 2-3 of these...” 🤣
@LeeEvolved all I do is give you a gentle nudge towards setting what you’ve wanted all along. Like that little guy in the red body suit that shows up from time to time on my shoulder and tells me to do things. That me to you. Just listen to the things I tell you and you’ll never go wrong
@PBMichiganWolverine yeah, my wife thinks I have too many as it is and I only have about 60
@PBMichiganWolverine - @Generously_Paul is doing what he does best...when he sees me write “I wish I had one or two of these..” I get a text link to a store that has them in stock. I don’t know which of use guys taught him that trick but I suspect it was you, Mr B.
@Scott_E and I’m sure @Generously_Paul is showing pictures of my storage bins of 500 bottles to his wife, saying “ honey, at least I’m not like this lunatic.”
@PBMichiganWolverine lol. I actually do. “Look, I saved use $1000”
@Scott_E next time, you should give her the example of “ a friend of mine @LeeEvolved meant to make a $170 purchase, but made $1100 one. See honey, this ain’t that bad!”. 😊
@LeeEvolved The 14 I haven’t seen here locally. The 18 was a whim purchase. Walked in to the store to get some Rittenhouse for Old Fashioneds and saw the last 18 on the shelf at a “steal” of a price for an 18. The $25 rye run cost me a collective $100 (as the wife questioned as to what happened to that cheap simple purchase you said you were doing?)
@Scott_E - I loved the different 14yo Tomatin’s with all the different finishes more than I liked the 18, actually. The port finished, French Oak and especially the Cu Bocan NAS. They’re cheap and they’re good. Can’t go wrong
@consamp Nice review btw.
@consamp I have No.2 and 4 and planning to get 3. Might have to double it for a collection and drinking. My understanding is they are planning 6 version, each representing the six pillar of Macallan. Each version is represented in ABV 48.2, 48.3, 48.4, etc. All gimmicky stuff, but pretty cool. @LeeEvolved I just grabbed a Tomatin 18 for $63 mainly on your recommendation of Tomatin.
You should give Tomatin 12 year Sherry or the Glenrothes Sherry Cask Reserve a try. Both bottles are around $45-50 and are plenty sweet while still retaining some good whisky characteristics like wood and heat. At $50 or less you can’t go wrong IMO. Great review, btw. Cheers.
@PBMichiganWolverine I have a Glendronach 12 waiting to be opened next. I will keep an eye out for the Allardice. Thank you for the suggestion!
@consamp the edition series might be one of the more affordable, and well made, of the Macallan line. Except edition 1...which I heard is horrible, and silly priced. Have you tried any of the Glendronachs? If you like the sweeter sherry profile, a Glendronach is as close as you can get. Try the Allardice. It’s affordable, and well made.