Review by: TOModera
Hey all, continuing on finally getting to samples that I’ve received before heading off to the Mother Land next week (not Fanexpo, that’s this week).
Today I’ll be venturing into territory I typically avoid with the Macallan 12 year Sherry Cask. I typically veer away from Macallan. I love the Cask Strength , and I’m okay with the Fine Oak , it’s just that there’s better whisky out there. And even though this was aged only in Sherry Casks, I’m still hesitant to try it. Macallan just seems too… marketed, and the new Over Expensive Red series is worrisome (based on reviews)
That being said, this is a Beginner Malt, and I am dedicated to trying all the beginner malts I can. So thanks to CaptainPortugal for sending me this dram, I’ve finally gotten around to it.
Distillery: Macallan Distillery.
Bottler: Distillery Bottling.
Region: Speyside.
ABV: 40%.
Age: 12 years.
Cask type: Sherry Cask.
Price: N/A.
Color: Chestnut (there has to be some dye involved here, it’s way too dark)
Nose: Strawberry, wood furniture, cherry, caramel, cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, cranberry
And by Cranberry, I mean raw Cranberries. If you’ve never had the chance to have one, it’s somewhere between a tart raspberry and chewing on wood. Looking back, I realized that this Scotch was aged only in Sherry casks, and that’s why it’s missing a “Scotch” element, save for some woodiness.
Taste: Strawberry, orange rind, oak, raspberry, ginger, peach zest, cinnamon, oak, butterscotch
More actual whisky flavour now, which is nice. Reminds me of a homemade cranberry sauce on Thanksgiving. Don’t know if I’m a huge fan of that. It’s not evoking the memory, that’s just the closest thing I can compare it to.
Finish: Mushroom, cherry, dill, sour strawberry, cranberry, cumin
Very tart, long finish. I wanted something light to finish it off, and then it punched me in the face and made fun of my mother. Not bad after awhile, though that may just be Stockholm Syndrom kicking in.
Conclusion: This is better than the 10, however not even close to the Cask Strength. Do yourself a favour, go buy the Cask Strength if you haven’t yet, and have the money, and… well, you know, don’t have a family or pets to feed with said money. Where as the 10 was okay and in the oak for long enough, this one was in the Sherry Cask so long it tasted a lot like Sherry. And the additional water has removed the richness and good pairing flavours that are evident in the Cask Strength. It’s okay, but if you’re going to try it, don’t buy a bottle, get a sample first.
Final Score: 79.
Scoring Legend:
- 95-100: As good as it gets. Jaw-dropping, eye-widening, unforgettable whisky.
- 90-94: Sublime, a personal favorite in its category.
- 85-89: Excellent, a standout dram.
- 80-84: Quite good. Quality stuff.
- 75-79: Decent whisky worth tasting.
- 70-74: Meh. It’s definitely drinkable, but it can do better.
- 60-69: Not so good. I might not turn down a glass if I needed a drink.
- 50-59: Save it for mixing.
- 0-49: Blech.
Malt Runners 