Macallan fine oak

I would imagine: Gold.

@sengjc. I would imagine that none of the new stuff is as good as any of the old stuff, especially dollar for dollar.

Spend your money on good, cask strength full flavour stuff - if you like Sherry there is aberlour a'bunadh and Amrut intermediate sherry.

If you like bourbon matured Amrut cask strength or single cask, or the older now discontinued but potentially available 16 YO glenlivet nadurra.

If you like peat, then Macallan wasn't for you anyway but there are a lot of options...

I don't think any of the fine oak series were sherry casked, so probably Gold or Amber would be closest, although decidedly inferior as Nozinan says. I've had the Amber and found it weak and sugary. The best Macallans are from sherry casks, but since the demise of the 12 year old there are none that I would consider affordable. For good, affordable sherry matured alternatives I would go for Glendronach or BenRiach or Glenfarclas. Someone else might be able to suggest something comparable to the fine oak.

@BlueNote the Macallan fine oak series was matured in 3 sets of casks. European oak with sherry, american oak with sherry, and american oak with bourbon. I have 12 and the 15 in the fine oak series, although the 15 is yet to be opened. The Sienna to me more resembles the old fine oak 12 than the Gold or Amber. But as Nozinan said, there are much better drams to spend you money on than the new NAS Macallans. I thought the Sienna was decent, but not with the $180 price tag here in Ontario.

Hope that helps.

@sengjc @BlueNote @Nozinan @mscottydunc . Hey you guys I tried Amber and it doesn't come close. Maybe mscottydunc is right about the Sienna. I will try but won't buy a whole bottle of it.

Thanks @mscottydunc. I must admit, I'm not very conversant with the Fine Oak series, I only ever had the 15 about 5 years ago before it got to be a stupid price. As I recall, the sherry influence was quite subdued in that one. I feel that even the lowest end Macallans are overpriced by comparison to the alternatives these days.

I'm with you bourbondrinker; I'd like to try the Sienna, but I won't be popping for a bottle any time soon. The QPR on most Macallans is just out of proportion.

You can always try a glass at a bar. I usually ask for a cognac glass as they won't have anything better! @BlueNote

@Nozinan

Hehe - was being a little tongue in cheek.

The 1824 Series doesn't compare to the previous series.

@bourbondrinker

I have had Ruby and that doesn't compare to the Sherry Oak. Worth trying if available by the dram.