The Macvin Single Cask is my favorite of the Pro$hibition Single Malt whiskies. It’s warm, rich, spicy, sweet, earthy, elegant and a whole other bag of adjectives that I could use to describe it. Like the other two it’s a great example of French whisky done right and just like the Vin de Paille and the Vin Jaune it was matured in a barrel that had previously been used to age something I’ve never heard of until these samples arrived at my door. So once again we turn to our good friend Wikipedia to find out what the heck Macvin is.
Macvin (wikipedia http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jura_wine) is a “vin de liqueur” (fortefied wine) that’s made by “adding marc to halt fermentation” and if you’re not sure what marc is Wikipedia has us covered there too. Marc is also called Pomace Brandy(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pomace_brandy) which is a brandy “distilled from pomace that is left over from winemaking after the grapes are pressed”. Basically they distill the leftover grape skins and such into a brandy that they add to the wine to stop fermentation at the right point and create Macvin which is then aged in wooden barrels. Barrels that later go off to the Tissot family who use them to mature their delicious single malt.
Pro$hibition Macvin Single Cask Review
Non-chill filtered
ABV: 41%
Age: 3-4 years (till it’s ready)
Price: $147 (in Canada)*
Distiller: Tissot
Mashbill: 100% Barley (it’s a French single malt)
EYE
Golden Pear Juice
NOSE
Butterscotch, malt, caramel, toffee, strawberry and cherry heavy dried dark fruit and good dose of Armagnac like spice. But this giving tree doesn’t stop there, oh no. Coming in right behind are notes of orchard fruit, vanilla, honeycomb, ripe apricots, a hint of wood and a warm sweetness that reminds me of a pastry shop. This is a deep and rich aroma that keeps going and going.
PALATE
Malt moves up on the palate and trades places with the butterscotch followed by some dried orchard fruit like apples and apricots accompanied by more of that cinnamon heavy Armagnac like spice. A bit of toffee moves in and mixes with some banana, white wine, pear, vanilla and some earthy leathery undertones. It’s magnificently complex and simply enjoyable.
FINISH
Long with notes of dried orchard fruit, malt, grassy hay, apricots and a mish-mash of complimentary sweet and earthy notes.
BALANCE, BODY & FEEL
Perfectly balanced with rich sweetness playing off of robust spice and subtle earthy notes. A warm full body and elegant texture completes the picture.
OVERALL
My favorite of the trio. If I could drink this everyday I would be a happy man. There is so much going on I feel like I find something new with almost every sip, but it’s always balanced and pleasant. I absolutely love the rich Armagnac like spice in here that come from the Macvin barrels and the way it plays with the sweetness on the nose and bolsters the fruitiness on the palate. It’s safe to say I have become enamored with the whisky coming out of the Jura region of France, particularly the Tissott family. It’s just great stuff.
SCORE: 92/100
*Disclosure: This was sent to me by the company for the purposes of this review.
