First we tapped into the Mac 12 Double and now we’re jumping up a bit to review The Macallan 15 Years Triple Cask Matured. A Scotch review I’ve been looking forward to doing for a while now because I never saw the point to the triple cask line… but now I think I do…
The Mac 15 Triple comes swinging into the scene at more than double the price of the 12 Double and brings with it ex-bourbon casks compared to the all sherry-seasoned casks in the Macallan 12 Double Cask. That sherried profile is what people have come to expect and what has made Macallan the name that it is but those good old sherry casks are hard to find, especially at the volume folks like Macallan, Highland Park, etc. need them in
This shortage is why Macallan and other distilleries have turned to “sherry seasoned” casks which had sherry in them for roughly 24 months. The sherry is dumped (often to make sherry vinegar) and then whisky distillate is put in the cask, but even these casks are expensive. So if cheaper ex-Bourbon casks are used, the ex-sherry cask whisky, can be stretched, think grain whisky in a blend, and help meet the increased demand without fully sacrificing the profile… it also gives the marketing folks an extra line of whisky to work on.
The Macallan 15 Years Triple Cask Matured Review: Details and Tasting Notes
“The Macallan Triple Cask Matured 15 Years Old forms part of our Triple Cask Matured range; a series of single malt whiskies crafted in a triple cask combination of European and American sherry seasoned oak casks and American ex-bourbon oak casks. An expert marriage of these three distinct cask types, this is a sublime single malt with vibrant orange and chocolate flavors.”
Details (price, mash bill, cask type, ABV, etc.)
Region: Highlands, Scotland
Distiller: The Macallan
Mash Bill: 100% Malted Barley
Cask: ex-Bourbon & Sherry Seasoned Casks (American & European)
Age: 15 Years
ABV: 43%
Price: $130
Tasting Notes
EYE
Honey
NOSE
Malty, graham, banana taffy, floral, caramel, vanilla buttercream frosting.
PALATE
Malty, graham, banana taffy, floral, caramel, vanilla buttercream frosting and touches of lavender, lemon and bubblegum.
FINISH
Med-short -> Angel food cake, grain sweetness and vanilla taffy.
BALANCE, BODY & FEEL
Ok sense of balance, medium-light body and a light velvety feel.
The Macallan 15 Years Triple Cask Matured Review: Overall and Score
Aroma is not unpleasant but it’s not earth-shattering either, rather basic, but on the good side of basic, with its delivery of fruity and malty aromas; Palate is also light with malty, fruity and baked sweets notes – again, not bad but light and without dramatic complexity; Finish is soft and sweet and my favorite part of this Scotch.
My first thought when tasting The Macallan 15 Years Triple Cask Matured was that it reminds me of the Glenfiddich 12. The lightly sherried malty profile brought me back to that parallel over and over while taking notes for this review. While the name is what garners the price, it’s easy to see why people gravitate to this whisky. It’s light, easy and presents no challenges or complexities to the palate or nose making it a simple dram to just pour and enjoy.
SCORE: 3/5
-A big thanks to AK for gifting me the bottle for this review
The Macallan 15 Years Triple Cask Matured Review $130
Overall
3- Nose (3)
- Palate (3)
- Finish (3)
- BBF (3)
User Review
0 (0 votes) Comments Rating 0 (0 reviews)The Macallan 15 Years Triple Cask Matured Review Summary
This is a decent Scotch. It’s warm and enjoyable without any marked flaws, but if you’re looking for something with serious depth and complexity then you might want to spend that $130+ on something else.
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