Marriage is a beautiful yet delicate thing. Done right, it encourages cohesion while retaining the best qualities of both parties. Push too hard, however, and the result could be a shambled incoherent mess. With whisky, this is readily apparent. You can’t fool the senses; not when there are a number of them in play.
Twice the pleasure
The Macallan’s Double Cask collection is well-accomplished in this regard. A distinctive warm character, punctuated with a contemporary soft sweetness, is an apt description of the collection. The Macallan extends its Double Cask range with the addition of two aged expressions: 15 and 18 years old. Both feature a double-maturation in American and European oak sherry-seasoned casks like their younger 12-year-old sibling.
The use of both American and European oak casks is instrumental to defining the collection’s flavour profile. The former imparts delicate hints of vanilla and other woody notes, while the latter contributes a subtle heat. Meanwhile, the sherry influence plays wonderfully off the two. The end result is a seamless harmony of sweet, savoury and spicy that earns The Macallan its renown.
Same casks; different experiences
Despite the similarities in maturation, there is an appreciable level of differentiation between the two newest aged expressions. The 15-year-old bottling displays a golden butterscotch hue. Further sensory inspection reveals aromas of dried fruit, toffee and vanilla, ending with a creamy mouthfeel. Conversely, the 18-year-old bottling carries a rich amber honey tone and welcomes the arrival of dried fruits, ginger and toffee on the palate. In the finish, a warm oak spice balanced against citrus flavours of sweet orange emerges for a final flourish.
“With the Double Cask 15 Years Old, the delicate and indulgent flavours of American oak including honey, citrus and chocolate balance The Macallan’s more traditional characteristics of rich fruits, sherry and wood spice,” said master whisky maker Kirsteen Campbell. “The Macallan Double Cask 18 Years Old offers slightly more complexity, with rich raisin and sultana subtly balanced by warming oak spice.”
See it in person
The new Double Cask expressions are The Macallan’s latest demonstration of its ability to challenge the norm and deliver an experience that exceeds conventional expectations. Most recently, the Highland brand also debuted The Macallan Experience at Raffles Arcade. The sensory journey immerses visitors in a storytelling epic that includes a state-of-the-art cinematic experience, a kinetic art installation and an archival gallery showcasing some of
The Macallan’s rarest collections.
“For the first time, we can reveal and share stories of The Macallan in a truly immersive, inspiring and memorable way,” says Francois Saurel, regional managing director for Asia Pacific at The Macallan. “The Macallan Experience is far more than a brand exhibition or tasting experience; it
has been curated entirely to bring our stories and heritage to life through a narrative that takes drinkers into the depths of The Macallan, revealing what makes it the exceptional single malt that it is today.”