This is the highly acclaimed Macallan 18 year old. Distilled in 1976 and matured in sherry wood casks before being bottled in 1994, this is a very collectable bottle.
Nose: starts quite beautifully but certainly less obviously sherried than other versions such as many 18yo’s that were distilled earlier. There’s also a faint soapiness but other than that it’s all on old walnuts, wax polish, cooked apricots and old wood. Also a little leather and cigarette tobacco as well as orange marmalade. Something antique, I’d say.
Mouth: very fruity and fresher than expected, with, again, no too much sherry influence. Apricot juice, tinned pineapples, mint drops, smoked tea and roasted nuts plus a little milk chocolate. The body is slightly thin but the whole is rather satisfying.
Finish: medium-long, on caramelised fruits and medium-bodied sweet white wine (Monbazillac and such). Very good Macallan despite the lack of ‘ampleur’, but there were many better batches of the classic 18years old I think. 85 points.
Distillery | Macallan |
Classification | Single Malt Whisky |
Bottle No./Released | -/- |
Vintage | 1976 |
Age | 18 |
Bottler | Official Bottling |
Bottling Date | 1994 |
ABV/ Volume | 43.0%/ 70cl |
Rating/SGP | 85/- |
Cask Number | - |
Type: Speyside - Edrington