Jose-Massu-Espinel
Macallan Classic Cut (2019 Release)
Single Malt — Highlands, Scotland
Reviewed
November 23, 2020 (edited January 25, 2022)
I have a natural resistance for what i am about to do. If you have read my reviews before, you know i am not a Macallan fan. I recognize it as a good whisky, they often make normal expressions that i believe are highly praised by many, but they aren't really THAT good.
Having said that, i recently had the classic cut 2018 edition, and i loved it. I scored it 92/100 and i remember that whisky as the most real Macallan ever, it represented every flavor profile i expect from a Macallan. All this made me buy the 2019 edition, and... well... read the rest.
Bottled at 52.9%abv, chesnut natural color.
On the nose... very complex stuff. Oranges is the first thing you perceive. White chocolate, very winey. Dates, crémé brulee, nuts, cocoa, almonds and amaretto liquor. After the first sip, the dehydrated fruits appear: raisins, dehydrated oranges and a mineral spiciness. After 10 minutes, it released more. Orange juice, liquid thick caramel, stewed apples and Latex.
On the palate, it is just amazing. Vanilla cupcake, fondant. A spicy note starts growing after a couple of seconds, to become this sodium-salty note you get from a Coca Cola (don't tell me you just realized coca cola is actually fairly salty). 2nd sip gave me chocolate, a medicinal note and latex, as in the nose.
Aftertaste is just incredibly rewarding. Red fruits, tobacco and mineral spiciness. It turns into ginger and chocolate. Very long with an overall mineral feeling. White chocolate with almonds can be felt in the finish.
So... i had a whole page written with tasting notes. I try to deduct points from the nose, palate and aftertaste, but my sense of justice didn't let me. The more i tried to deduct points somewhere, the more i realized this dram was very well made. It is not my favorite whisky, i won't die if i never taste it again, but i will surely think this is as close to perfection for a whisky critic and enthusiast. Every rule has an exception, and this my friends, this is a perfect score dram: 100 over 100. Sláinte Mhath. Go buy this.
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@WhiskeyLonghorn i really think this classic cut expressions are good.
I wasn’t going to buy another MacAllan but you may have just changed my mind.
@CKarmios thank you. more than formidable, this was very well crafted and very complex. elegant and full of flavors.
When it comes to Macallan we are very much of the same camp. Well done for not letting your predisposition get the best of you. It also means this must be a formidable whisky.