The Macallan Collection featuring the 12 Year Old Sherry Oak, 18 Year Old Sherry Oak, and 15 Year Old Double Cask Single Malt Scotch Whiskies offers a compelling exploration of The Macallan's dedication to oak maturation, showcasing both their classic sherry-focused style and their harmonious Double Cask range. This bundle allows you to appreciate the nuances that age and different oak combinations impart on their exceptional spirit.
The Breakdown:
The Macallan Sherry Oak 12 Year Old:
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Maturation: Exclusively matured in hand-picked sherry-seasoned European oak casks from Jerez, Spain.
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Tasting Notes: Rich dried fruits and sherry, with notes of spice, orange peel, and a hint of wood smoke. The palate offers rich fruitcake, spice, and a long, warming finish.
The Macallan Sherry Oak 18 Year Old:
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Maturation: Exclusively matured in hand-picked sherry-seasoned European oak casks from Jerez, Spain.
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Tasting Notes: Rich aromas of dried fruits, ginger, and toffee, with notes of rich orange and hints of clove and nutmeg. The palate offers rich raisin and sultana with notes of caramel, vanilla, and ginger, balanced by wood spice and zesty citrus. The finish is long with warm oak spice, ginger, turning to sweet orange.
The Macallan Double Cask 15 Year Old:
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Maturation: Matured in a harmonious combination of sherry-seasoned American and European oak casks.
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Tasting Notes: Dried fruit, toffee, and vanilla with smooth oak and baked apple on the nose. The palate offers sweet raisin and sultana building with hints of vanilla, wood spice, and citrus, leading to a warm finish with ginger turning to caramel and citrus, and a lingering creamy mouthfeel.
Overall Impression of the Bundle:
This collection provides a fantastic opportunity to delve into The Macallan's core character. You can directly compare the influence of age within their classic Sherry Oak range, noting the increased depth and complexity from the 12 to the 18-year-old expressions. The inclusion of the 15 Year Old Double Cask then introduces the intriguing interplay of American and European sherry-seasoned oak, offering a slightly sweeter and creamier counterpoint to the richer, more intensely dried fruit and spice-driven Sherry Oak bottlings.
Awards:
Each of these expressions has individually received numerous accolades over the years from prestigious whisky competitions and publications, consistently highlighting the exceptional quality and craftsmanship of The Macallan.
In summary, The Macallan Collection featuring the 12 Year Old Sherry Oak, 18 Year Old Sherry Oak, and 15 Year Old Double Cask offers a superb tasting experience that showcases the distillery's mastery of oak maturation and the distinct profiles achieved through different cask types and aging periods. It's a highly regarded set for enthusiasts seeking to understand the heart of The Macallan's renowned whisky-making tradition.
