Macallan 25
Added on Wednesday, Jun 18, 2008 at 07:55 PM
  Bottler: OB
  Age: 25 yrs Type: Scotch
  Vintage: N/A Subtype: Single Malt
  ABV: 46.00 % Region: Speyside
  Price: $700 Availability: Better Stores
Member Ratings and Notes
Adam
 

The definition of a sherried, balanced, elegant and delicious scotch.  If you don't think this is good, see your doctor.  (Bottled circa 2007)

 

[Note to Andy: You are now Dingus #2.]

 

[Note to the Duke: $28/pour is great, but has to be a mistake. They're losing money, unless they bought the bottle years ago.]

Andy
 

Nuts and fresh firewood.  The sherry is light with the overall flavors barely edging over the alcohol.  Highly. quaffable, but a monstrous disappointment for the financial setback that our good friends at Macallan require.

 

Note to Mr. Herz.  Tests by Dr.  Preedar Oreggio on 5/11/10  resulted in perfect score on bloodwork.  There is a little blood pressure prehypertension, but that should not affect my ability to taste a bland, uninspired Mac 25.

Chris
 
Well, what can you say bad about this.   It's a slightly fuller version of Macallan 18.   I get some deeper notes of chocolate and red cherry.  But otherwise the flavor profile matches the 18 year.   I was actually drinking Mac 18 right before this, so I was able to do a good comparison.

[I like to give props to bars that price their whisky reasonably, so a shout out to the Rowes Wharf Bar in Boston, charging $28 a pour.]
Tim
 
N: Rich oak upfront with some nutty sherry notes; a bit of molasses and treacle sponge pudding. Some of the youth of Macallan still comes through. Orange and dried plum; a touch of apple and a light bit of spice. A little touch of shoe polish and leather. 

P: Full mouthfeel, rich and coating. Immediately leads with a heavy but not overbearing oak influence. Nice white pepper with a dash of cinnamon at the edges. Dried fruit again; a little plum note. The sherry is again rich and full on this but it's not a lopsided sherried whisky in the least. Plenty of youthful Macallan character; a faint bit of earthiness. 

F: Wood which dries slightly. A little bit of apple skin and a momentary flash of fresh celery brightens it up but doesn't detract. A little orange and a faint touch of pear. A little late kick of cherries and chocolate. 
 
This is all about the wood, with a prominent display on the nose and palate. There's a strong secondary dried fruit component - reminds me a lot of Balvenie 1401 but with the more zesty and bright Macallan spirit versus the more straightforward and fruity (but rounded) Balvenie spirit. This is unquestionably the grand dae of Macallan's standard sherry oak range; a fantastic balance.  
 
 
Sku
 

Nose: Nice sherry notes followed by a tinge of sulphur.

Palate: Full, fruity sherry, just a touch of sulphur toward the end, but very faint.

Finish: Apricots.

 

This was very nice but tasted like a fairly standard sherried malt to me.    I should note that the expression I tried was listed as 43% abv, which may indicate that proof has gone down since the entry was first posted.

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