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Macallan 12 Year Old Sherry Oak

Much better than the 40%

8 689

@casualtortureReview by @casualtorture

12th Aug 2018

1

Macallan 12 Year Old Sherry Oak
  • Nose
    23
  • Taste
    23
  • Finish
    21
  • Balance
    22
  • Overall
    89

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I owned a bottle of this while in China, and remember it being decent. A local store has it for $54usd+tax and I was willing to pay that for the same experience. I then realized that in the US, this is bottled at 43% abv, while the bottling in Asia is at 40% abv. I was then definitely willing! So I'm going to review this and then compare my notes and what I remember from my other bottle.

Bottle is 90% full and opened about a week.

Nose: Nutty and chocolatey. Hazelnuts covered in chocolate. Dark fruit (plums, black grapes), cocoa nibs, and brown sugar. It smells like ferrer rocher tastes!

Palate: More fruits and less nuts than the nose. Raspberry, blackberry, plums, dark grapes and baked gooey cherries, all surrounded by a layer of milk chocolate. Good strength of flavors for a low proof Speysider.

Finish: Brown sugar, baked cherries and hazelnuts linger for a short/medium length finish.

Overall: The biggest difference to me between this 43% version versus the 40% version are strength of flavors on the palate, which is what the 40% lacked. This is a very good product and a very good whisky, not just a name.

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6 comments

@BlueNote
BlueNote commented

Agreed. The 43% version is a noticeably different, and much better, animal. I've noticed the same with the Glenmo 10 Original and the Balvenie 12 Doublewood. In both instances the 43% versions I bought in Mexico and the US are dramatically better than the 40% versions we get in Canada.

6 years ago 4Who liked this?

@OdysseusUnbound
OdysseusUnbound commented

I’d really like to try this one. I’ve been underwhelmed by most Macallans I’ve tried. And the ones I’ve liked have been priced well beyond what I would personally pay for them. This one, especially at 43%, seems to hit the mark more often than not and seems to be priced reasonably in the States. Sadly, Ontario only gets the 12 Year Old Sulphur Cask, er I mean Double Cask, and its price point is a laughable $98.

6 years ago 3Who liked this?

@Victor
Victor commented

My how things change in the whisky world! In 2010 Macallan 12 Sherry Oak seemed to be just about the most plain-jane, boring, ho-hum, same-old-same-old whisky out there. Now it is recognised by some, including me, as a pillar of quality and value...when purchased at the place where one can get the right price and ABV, that is.

I've put into my stock 4 or 5 bottles of these 43% ABV Macallan 12 Sherry Oaks from the now disappearing batch which I know well and trust greatly, because this is the quality I want available to me in the future.

6 years ago 5Who liked this?

@RianC
RianC commented

@casualtorture - Thanks for a great review! It's funny, it's the 40% and relative high prices that put me off buying Macallan. Such a shame we have it, and so many other malts, at the lower end of the abv scale.

Glad your enjoying this one, it sounds delicious.

6 years ago 1Who liked this?

@Nozinan
Nozinan commented

@OdysseusUnbound I can ensure that you taste a Macallan 12 next time I see you.

6 years ago 2Who liked this?

@casualtorture
casualtorture commented

@BlueNote I've owned a bottle of Glenmorangie 10 at 40%. It was OK but didn't blow my socks off. As with this Mac, it is bottled at 43% in the US. I'll have to get a bottle and do a comparison.

6 years ago 0