Review by: Whiskery Turnip
Distillery: Macallan.
Bottler: SMWS.
Region: Scotland/Speyside Single Malt.
ABV: 63.3%. Cask Strength.
Age: 12 Years. Distilled on 13 Oct. 2008.
Cask type: Oloroso Sherry Butt (10Y), First Fill American Oak PX Hogshead.
Nose: Rich and decadent, stewed stone fruits, ripe purple plums, brown sugar, subtle mint and perilla leaf, dark chocolate, lacquered wood.
Palate: Medium to full-bodied, rich, stewed stone fruit, salted caramel, hints of spice and citrus rind, leather, cherries, lacquered wood, dark chocolate.
Finish: Medium-long and drying with brown sugar, lacquered wood, and stone fruits.
Mental Image: Prohibition Milkshake Joint.
Conclusion: Rich and decadent, the aroma overflowed with stewed stone fruit and oak. Stone fruits bubbled away with cinnamon, anise, and brown sugar while juicy, ripe purple plums were set aside for snacking. Subtle herbal notions of mint and perilla lingered in the background as more dark chocolate, caramel, malty sugars, lacquered wood, and hints of leather developed— chocolate malted milkshake in a steakhouse, maybe? Medium to full-bodied, the flavor profile exploded with juicy stewed stone fruits, salted caramel, plums, hints of orange rind, anise, and cinnamon. Leather and cherries sat further in with lacquered wood, cocoa, and brown sugar, which sparked a craving for cherries jubilee. The finish was medium to long and drying with brown sugar, lacquered wood, and stone fruits.
Wood and sherry took center stage on this cask-driven Macallan from SMWS. Some of its sibling casks have tiptoed to the “overly tannic and woody” line of no return but never crossed the point where an oaky bitterness emerged. A good friend with a sensitivity to bitterness, he finds peat overly bitter, quibbled that he has generally found these SMWS Macallan to be over-oaked and bitter, but enjoyed this one.
The aroma was woody, but there were enough accompanying and competing notes that this never felt overly simple. On the palate, the stone fruits had a lovely juiciness, which balanced well against tannins from the American oak. This needed no water to open up, though patience and time were rewarded with the development of some additional complexity. A few drops brought out more fruit and pushed some of the chocolate and caramel further into the background.
Overall, an above-average sherry-driven malt that competes well against some of the bonkers Macallan exceptional casks. Cask-driven malts are rarely to my taste, but I found this one enjoyable.
Final Score: 80.
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 