The Macallan 10 year Fine Oak is aged in both ex-sherry and ex-bourbon casks and delivers a nice punch of flavor for relatively little cost. I’ve read in several places that Macallan is planning to discontinue age statements all together. Then I read that they are not planning on it and all of the age statement whiskies we know and love are listed in their current lineup on their site so it seems to me that, at least for the moment, the Fine Oak and Sherry Oak aren’t disappearing.
Even though the Macallan Fine Oak 10 is on the younger side of scotch single malts it’s in good tasty company. Think about this. Glenmorangie 10 is awesome, Laphroaig 10 is awesome, this is pretty good and you could walk out of most bottle shops with a bottle of each for about $120 total. That’s $90 cheaper than a single bottle of Macallan 18 or $40 cheaper than a single bottle of Macallan 17. Both of which are tasty tipples but, between you and me, neither can hold a candle to the combined and diverse flavor experiences of all 3 of those. Just something to think about the next time you’re at the liquor store and find yourself staring lustfully at that top shelf.
The Macallan 10 year Review
ABV: 40%
Age: 10 years
Price: $45
Distiller: The Macallan
EYE
Light gold
NOSE
Apple and pear heavy orchard fruit starts things off and mixes with notes of honey, vanilla, floral notes and some feint spices like cinnamon and nutmeg. Soft sweet malt and a light tropical fruit heavy with bananas and mangos keeps things moving in the background.
PALATE
Here the fruit comes across more tropical but a good dose of orchard fruit is also mixed in. Cinnamon, vanilla, malt, raisins and dark fruit notes layer in with a wee bit of wood and a marzipan style sweetness that is laying beneath the complex fruit notes. It’s a great taste indeed.
FINISH
Might not seem possible, but the fruit kicks up even more here and dominates the med finish and blends with notes of vanilla, wood, spice, malt and a feint ash.
BALANCE, BODY & FEEL
Malt spice and slight earthy flavors balance out the fruit well and the med body gets accented nicely with a creamy texture.
OVERALL
If I had only one word to describe The Macallan 10 it would be crisp. The warm fruit that dominates nose, palate and finish comes across solid and feeds the senses. All of the more subtle notes come through sharply and easily. A tasty little single malt that, at it’s current price, is a decent bang for your buck. Unless you’re actually looking for any sherry influence that is because there really isn’t any here despite what the label says. If you’re looking for a nice sherry influenced single malt for cheap check out the GlenDronach 12 instead.
SCORE: 83/100
