Macallan 12 Year Old Sherry Oak

Ah, Macallan 12 Sherry. I’d wager that this is the most popular whisky here in Taiwan. But I don’t buy it too often. Why? Well, I feel it should be stronger and more affordable. This costs slightly more than most introductory 12 year olds with higher abvs, and I may hold that against them a little bit. But all that aside, it’s still a decent dram. Let’s get to it.

Nose: Classic Macallan sherry. Sweet, dry, spicy, woody, and musty. Chocolate, barley, grass, hay, oak, nutmeg, dates, maple, caramel, and berry jam.

Palate: Light and watery. Chocolate, amaretto, maple, roasted nuts, nutmeg, musty oak, sour milk, tiramisu, and rum balls.

Finish: Woodspice, amaretto, roasted pecans, milk chocolate, dates, leather, oak, molasses, cinnamon, and nutmeg. Short, but pleasant and complex.

Thoughts: Well it’s no heavyweight, but it is rich and balanced. The profile is quite singular; it’s sweet, musty, and a bit charred. The sherry and wood notes suggest quality casks were used. The nose is lovely, but the arrival/development is weak. The finish is interesting, but not as powerful as it could/should be. The quality shines, but it’s handicapped by its 40%. This would be fantastic if they turned up the volume to 46% or higher. As it is, it’s a very pleasant dram, but not substantial enough.

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