The nose has those typically sweet fruity notes you expect from Macallan. The palate carries over those dark fruits but adds some honey and chocolate coupled with lovely Christmas cake notes. The finish is long with some nuttiness and ginger coming through along with a slightly bitter citrus note. A few drops of water reduces the bitterness and enhances the chocolate notes. It’s a perfect Christmas dram. Criticisms? Yes, there are some: It’s a little thin on the mouthfeel, you won’t be able to justify the price so don’t try, the Classic Cut releases are cheaper and probably better. But . . . . . If you love Macallan, or need to complete your collection of this series, or just want to splurge for Christmas, then go grab a bottle. As whisky fans, we don’t always have to substantiate the cost/value proposition. Sometimes we buy whiskies because we want to; simple as that. 88/90.