Macallan 18 Year Old Sherry Oak

My wife just told me that I"m being silly. She may be right. She thought of something that did not occur to me. I am taking antibiotics right now and they could be destroying my palate.

I will taste the Macallan 18 50 ml again when I am off the antibiotics for a minimum of 24 hours. My apologies to Macallan if the antibiotics are ravaging my palate and its scotch is as delightful as the Macallan 18 that I've so loved in bars around town. We shall see.

Part of my disappointment this evening stemmed from my high hopes. I really do adore Macallan 18, enough so that I think the 88 average mark on Connosr is a bit low. Judging from my memories of Mac 18 that I've savored in the past, I would put it up around 91.

BTW, 15 50ml bottles equals a normal sized bottle, if I'm not mistaken. So that means these smaller little 50 ml bottles, if combined to equal the size of a normal Macallan 18 bottle, would cost a bit more than the full sized bottle would cost, at least here in Portland.

Ah yes, never drink whilst taking antibiotics! I've had things taste funny or different whilst on medication. Hopefully this one isn't as dire as you made it out to be when you re-review it.

I have recently (two years ago) purchased and tasted two different 50mL minis of the Macallan 18yo. Granted, I am not a sherry cask lover - but these were very good. If the prices were more reasonable for an 18yo Macallan I might buy it. But at $176 . . . I would rather have 3 bottles of anything from Islay.

Further, I have had a few mini bottles be "off" (Most memorably BenRiach Authenticus 21yo . . . it was horrible!) It it in the nature of mini bottles to go bad more easily (in my opinion).

In other words: your wife is right. Give the mini Mac a second chance.

I will 'third' the issue of palate modification due to RX medications. My palate was really messed up after taking antibiotics and oral steroids. I waited a week to drink, but everything that was even slightly smoky or peaty ended up tasting intensely salty on my palate. Overwhelmingly so. Even my sherry cask malts were saltier. I started to panick thinking that somehow I had missed the saltiness of all my single-malts all this time. Two months later, my palate is finally back. Whew!

Well, I've been off antibiotics for three days. Here is my final verdict:

This 50ml bottle of "Macallan 18" tastes far worse than a typical bottle of Macallan 12 year.

I stand by all of my statements above. I bought seven bottles and was totally ripped off by subpar scotch that should never have been called Macallan 18.

I've now opened two of the bottles and they taste the same. There is no cork rot. It's just terrible terrible tasting scotch that does not resemble Mac 18 in the least on the nose, the palate and the finish. Blah!!!!

BTW: my taste buds are fine when I'm drinking (and deeply appreciating) my open bottles of Springbank Claret, Lombard Jewels Clynelish 21, Longrow Gaja 7, Edradour Nonchill 10, and Laphroaig 10 Cask 003.

Last night, the Laphroaig really really hit the spot. More time in the bottle improved it from last I tasted it about a month ago. Well done, Laphroaig!!!!!

I give my taste buds a clean bill of health. They are just fine now and my palate is back in the swing of tasting and appreciating fine whisky once again.

Any chance you can return them? I know the LCBO will take back defective liquor, even if opened.

I'll give it a shot. Thanks for your tips. I appreciate your expertise.

Try having a dram right after brushing ur teeth. The whisky will taste like sugar water.