This is followed by raisins, oak and red fruit sweetness. PALATE: It is quite a smooth whisky, and the first tasting brings spices. Adding a drop or two of water opens this Macallan 12 yo and brings more fresh fruit and flowers. The sweetness has little hints of vanilla in the background. There are fresh fruits and some flowers on the nose. NOSE: The immediate Sherry sweetness that you would expect from a whisky aged in a Sherry cask. The colour is almost red gold, and it is easily one of the darker whiskies in my collection. Related Article: Glenfarclas 12 yo whisky Review and Tasting Notes for the Macallan 12 yo Single Malt WhiskyĬOLOUR: It has spent lots of time exclusively maturing in Jerez Sherry Oak casks, which probably explains the very dark colour. The Macallan Distillers Ltd is a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Edrington Group that purchased the brand from Highland Distillers in 1999. The Macallan falls into the Scottish Highlands. Craigellachie falls outside of these boundaries. Under the Scotch Whisky Regulations, the “Speyside” designation can only be used by distilleries in certain wards in the traditional Speyside region.

The River Spey, one of Scotland’s most famous rivers, borders the estate to the south and southeast.Įven though Macallan is located right in the middle of the Speyside region, it’s not labelled as such. The Macallan distillery is a single malt Scotch whisky distillery in Craigellachie, Moray. This particular expression has since been discontinued, so I am keen to try it. The Macallan 12 yo Sherry Cask is not the most expensive whisky, but it carries a significant premium over many other 12 yo whiskies.

Let’s take something a bit more expensive out of the box. I have enjoyed some of the more affordable whiskies of late, and it is time for a change. Examples such as Ballantine’s Finest, The Black Grouse and South Africa’s very own Bain’s Cape Mountain whisky comfortably stand alongside more expensive releases. Some of the best whiskies in my collection are in the more affordable range. However, if there is one thing that I have learnt during our tasting sessions over the years, expensive whisky does not necessarily equate to great whisky. The Macallan holds the Guinness World Record for the most expensive whisky ever sold at auction. It has not been without controversy, especially around their antique collection. The Macallan has managed to position their whisky in the premium whisky category. Today I taste one of John’s favourites, the Macallan 12 yo single malt whisky.

Macallan whiskey distillery