Style: Light Sherry and Spicy
Nose:
A quick strike of matchsticks brings us to a musky mist over brown sugar and dried (still unmistakably Macallan) sherry fruits. Slip of Balsamic vinegar over subtle walnuts. Spice hiding rather deep with the malt.
Palate:
Timber spices lashes out unexpectedly on the palate. On hot glowing tracks we have bountiful figs with apples, dates and raisin chocolates on the side. Uncompromising spice and tannins continue to tingle on mid-palate. Dry ginger becomes increasing evident. Milk chocolate and butter toast as oak rolls in. Red fruits heading to a semi-dry tone towards the end.
Finish:
Dry ginger stays on. Soft honey, dates and chocolate. Dried figs, dried figs.
Thoughts:
Macallan on the light and spicy side in my book. Edition No. 1 was remembered as one of the lesser Macallans in our vertical tasting last year (well, to be fair, we had some really great older Macallans in the line up). I ran another blind vertical tonight just to make sure. It was actually okay. For me, it is highly drinkable, but technical-wise, I do prefer my Macallan to have more flavours if the strength is tuned up. That being said, the Macallan spirit, the DNA, remains magnificent as ever.
[48% • 2015 • Original Bottling • Non Chill Filtered • Non Coloured • No Age Statement • Limited Edition • x]
-Esmond
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