Here we go for another round of Scotch Whisky reviews, starting with this: The Macallan 12 Years Double Cask. A common misconception is that this is ex-Bourbon and ex-Sherry, but it’s not. It’s all sherry treated oak. The double refers to the use of European and American oak.
I’ve been obscenely fortunate in my life to try a massive array of Macallan that starts at the present and reaches all the way back to the 50s. It’s a distillery that can put out whisky that is so good it’s unbelievable… but it hasn’t done that in a while. As victims of their own success, like many modern distilleries, they’re not capable of putting out the whisky they used to 10+ years ago. That’s just the physical reality we live in.
But in the “what’s available to the average modern buyer” realm of conversation they’re still putting out some good whisky — that’s undeniable. And while the pricing of said whisky is a whole other conversation, what they’re doing today from a what’s-in-the-bottle perspective is still quite nice and it’s through that lens I’m approaching this Macallan 12 Years Double Cask review… and every other review I do.
Macallan 12 Years Double Cask Review: Details and Tasting Notes
“The Macallan Double Cask 12 Years Old forms part of our Double Cask range which marries the classic Macallan style and the unmistakable sweetness of American oak. This is a fully rounded single malt in perfect balance, with flavors of honey, citrus and ginger.”
Details (price, mash bill, cask type, ABV, etc.)
Region: Highlands, Scotland
Distiller: The Macallan
Mash Bill: 100% Malted Barley
Cask: ex-Sherry Treated Eurpoean & American Oak
Age: 12 Years
ABV: 43%
Price: $60
Tasting Notes
EYE
Caramel
NOSE
Malt, honey, apricot, brown sugar, spice, dried fruit, nuts, vanilla and orange peel.
PALATE
Malt, Honey Nut Cheerios, apricot, brown sugar, copper, orange zest and spice.
FINISH
Medium -> Dry malty, spice and dried apricots.
BALANCE, BODY & FEEL
Good, medium, soft
Macallan 12 Years Double Cask Review: Overall and Score
Aroma opens to Honey Nut Cheerios after the initial apricot bomb pours out; Palate basically follows the same lines with minor deviations; Finish quickly turns to dried apricots and lingers just long enough. It’s light and a tad watery in its delivery, but not bad.
Nothing truly makes the Macallan 12 Years Double Cask stand out; it’s the workhorse of the lineup. It’s fine for sipping, but I prefer it mixed. It’s a good canvas to build drinks on and have fun with. It’s the kind of whisky that’s easy to forget is on your shelf but even easier to come back to when you see it.
SCORE: 2.5/5
Overall
2.5- Nose (2.5)
- Palate (2.5)
- Finish (2.5)
- BBF (2.5)
User Review
0 (0 votes) Comments Rating 0 (0 reviews)Macallan 12 Years Double Cask Review Summary
It’s a decent whisky for an entry-level dram. It won’t floor you, it won’t blow your socks off, it won’t change your life, but it will smell and taste decent as it sits in your glass and goes through your senses, which is exactly what it’s supposed to do.
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