The nose is very similar to the standard Macallan 12 year with orange zest, ginger, sweet butterscotch, candied apple, cola, and buttered bread. The biggest difference in the nose with the double cask is the addition of more vanilla and sweet oak. The palate is thick and candied like a good creme brûlée. The ginger from the nose is also there, accompanied by a lot of citrus, a sweet blend of lime and orange juice. There is also some dried fruit, raisins, and caramel. The finish is thick, almost chewy. As the strong flavors in the palate fade away, the spice from the ginger remains, giving this scotch a long spicy finish that becomes sweet and peppery. I think I may prefer this to the standard 12 year, but only slightly, and I wouldn’t be disappointed drinking either. Many people like to say Macallan is overpriced, but I think it’s still better than many other scotches in its price range and represents some of the best whisky Speyside has to offer.