Scotch Review: The Macallan Fine Oak 10 Year

Pretty well behaved for a 10 year old.

If you have ever read my blog before, you know I am a fan of The Macallan. So I try to be fair and not give biased reviews of their drams. It is hard though when you start to like the brand itself... (a note to marketers out there)

I was looking for a different taste than my other Macallan's so I figured a nice traditional oak cask would do the trick. If I didn't mention this before, Macallan is a Speyside Distillery and they are known for their very small stills. Instead of going with bigger stills, they decided on making more small stills. They claim it keeps the flavour more consistent and they tout a very selective "cut". The 10 Year Fine Oak is triple matured in an American Oak, a sherry oak, and a Bourbon oak cask. This should create a very complex smokey, sweet, and honey like drink. So, here we go!

Color: It is a pale straw like yellow, very light and pilsner like

Nose: it has a floral, heather like nose with lots of honey and a spicy citrus, like a spiced apple cider, very small hint of smoke

Palate: a gingery fruit taste with the traditional honey of the oak casks, but there is the smokey Bourbon taste towards the end

Finish: the drink itself leaves a smokey citrus for a long smooth finish, was great with a sweet cigar

It was a sort of watery Scotch, but it made its presence known the second it hit your tongue. The tingle starts and then your mouth is filled with a great medley of smooth flavour. Nothing too crazy here, just well behaved and balanced. I really liked this whisky. I know it may be due to my bias, but I don't care. It is a little sweet, a little floral, a little honey like, a little smokey, and a lot Macallan! I give this a 7.5 of 10.

Questions for YOU: What is your favorite Mac?

A Night with THE Macallan

A night of FREE Scotch and good company, I can’t think of anything better (seriously).

The Macallan is doing a marketing campaign at local venues all over the country. They allow you to sign up and invite guests to a one night Scotch tasting event. I was lucky enough to grab a seat at the Cleveland, Ohio event. The whole night cost me nothing and I was able to taste most of Macallan’s expressions. They served snacks as we milled around waiting for our seats. It was a nice little crab ball appetizer. As we got in line for the event they served us our first glass of Macallan 10yr Fine Oak. I have a bottle of this at home but I still like the sharp, young whisky.

Upon seating they started the event and the ambassador covered what makes the Scotch so unique. Our ambassador was a decent host but if you really listened to what he had to say, he was very entertaining. We were then served another 10 yr Fine Oak, 12 yr Sherry, 15 yr Fine Oak, THE 18yr Sherry cask, and the 10yr Cask Strength. WOW. I consider my Macallan 12yr Sherry my go to whisky, but the 18yr was absolutely amazing. I wish I never tasted it to be honest! Ignorance is bliss and now after tasting the 18, I just don't know if I can go back to the 12. I am just not ready to fork over the extra 70 dollars for the 18yr. A 12yr Sherry is around $50 while the 18yr is over $100. Bummer. The night carried on and we had the opportunity to talk the ambassador afterward. He was very friendly and super personable! I loved listening to him talk about his whisky adventures. He has the greatest job in the world… I am a tad jealous. The group I went with hung around and smoked a cigar in the parking lot as our blood alcohol level dropped a little, we had over 5 glasses of Scotch remember. My buddies and I just loved this event and I love Macallan for doing something so cool. Thanks guys, you will always be my favorite whisky. Well I am now off to sell some stuff on Ebay so I can afford an 18yr bottle of happiness!

Question for YOU: Has anyone else been to these events yet? If so, how did your night compare?!

Scotch Review: THE Macallan 12

Ok guys here is another Scotch review...THE Macallan 12 year, probably one of my favorites of all time! So lets get right to it!

Color: Rich gold, russet

Nose: first off this is one of the best smelling drams in all the land! It starts off with hints of dried fruit and apricot, then moves to a sweetness of sherry and a weak smokey smell lingers after that...AMAZING. Most Scotchs I need to sniff 2-3 times to get that great smell but the first sniff is great and the rest make it even better!

Palate: It tastes of a spicy gingery fruit then very noticeable tastes of honey! By far one of my favorites! The Sherry Casks really comes through here.

Balance/Finish:They say that it finishes with toffee but I get a caramel linger and all that fruit and spicy smoke!

Ok for anyone who doesn't drink Scotch TRY THIS ONE! Its sweet and great and well...amazing and better than some of the 20 year drams I have had.

Also check out the Macallan webpage, it is really cool! They have decided to market with more luxurious brands like watches. It is a really cool idea of co branding and making The Macallan seem like the classiest if the Scotchs! I give this favorite of mine a 8.5 of 10!