Macallan Amber 1824 Series

This one is the second youngest in the 1824 Series. I didn't like the Gold much (scored it a 75 about a year ago) so let's see how this one stands up.

The colour is, um, amber. On the nose, it is quite shy, with orange zest, very light sherry and....hm. Not much else. Maybe a few quiet herbal notes and light honey, but otherwise there is not much going on here, at all. What if we add water....oh, here we go! Mango joins the orange, with ginger hanging out just for fun. Better, despite the faintest hint of sulphur.

The palate, with the exception of some spice, is fairly nondescript. Terry's Chocolate Orange Ball, but muted. The mouthfeel is almost watery - it has the delicacy of traditional Macallan but not the silkiness. Adding a few drops of water helps the spice and the malt, though.

The finish is short with some wood smoke, chili and ginger. Well, this is disappointing. Funny, I remember liking it more when I tasted it at WhiskyLive last year, so I'm surprised. I still like it a little better than the Gold, but there is really no comparison between this and the 12 Year Old Sherry Oak; it is like a muted shadow of its former self. One caveat though: this Amber is a freshly opened bottle, and I've already noticed it has improved with water and some oxidation (whereas the 12yo is 2/3 empty and had been open for at least a year or so). So with some time, it may improve. Let's hope, greatly so.

Find where to buy Macallan whisky