Macallan 57 Year Old Lalique Crystal 75cl

Macallan 2005 Bottled 2014 Speymalt

I've come across some young Macallans through my Scotch Whisky Auction shopping, so let's compare two of them: A G&M 2005 9 year old Speymalt, and a mini of the standard 10 year old. Let's start with the G&M, matured in first-fill and refill sherry butts. The bottle has been open for about six months or so. The colour is a medium gold. On...

Score 86/100

Macallan Cask Strength

This is the first Macallan in my cabinet thus far, and it is undoubtedly a bold one. The nose is an immediate, lingering burst of sherry, dripping with cinnamon-dusted raisins. The body is rich and syrupy, sherry dominating the palate as it does the nose. Again, spices brighten the profile—cinnamon, clove, perhaps even nutmeg. A bit of water helps...

Score 84/100

Macallan 15 Year Old Fine Oak

Apparently the Fine Oak series got mixed reviews when it came out. In comparison with the Sherry Oak series, the Fine Oak series uses a mix of bourbon and sherry casks. While Macallan appears to have discontinued the age-statement varieties, and the Sherry series is long gone where I live, New Brunswick is still swimming in Fine Oak bottles, which...

Score 80/100

SMWS 24.111 - Ginger beer and pickled walnuts

Last night the LCBO put on a scotch tasting that featured two new Macallans: the Rare Cask and the No. 6, both very good. The Rare Cask was fairly spicy, while the No. 6 was much subtler and quite extraordinary. Master of Wood Stuart McPherson was there to explain things: the Rare Cask is blended from whiskies 10-30 years old, whereas all the...

Score 78/100