Review #208: Macallan Edition #3

Speyside - NAS - NCF - NCA - $80 - $110 - 48%

Everybody's favorite volume producer started coming out with "editions" a few years ago.  They all come with a story of somebody outside of whisky coming in to make their own whisky.  I had the first two editions at a tasting and was not thrilled with them. One of them was worse IMO than the standard 12.  For this edition they got a perfume expert to pick out the casks.  They are a combination of American and European oak but no break down of age or ex-sherry/ex-bourbon.  Marketing bullshit below. 

The Macallan teamed up with Master Perfumer Roja Dove, an English fragrance specialists whose perfumes are sold in luxury department stores worldwide. Evidently, Dove’s nose is so advanced that he has successfully identified 800 different scents blindfolded.  Together, Dove and Master Distiller Bob Dalgarno selected six casks, all of unique aromatic qualities, to a create a whisky possessing one incredibly complex, distinctive aroma.

Color - Auburn

Nose - Apricots, honey, vanilla, buttercream, oranges, more and more oranges, vanilla ice cream

Palate - Toffee, baking spice, fresh apples, peaches, pears and a touch of oak - A touch thin on mouthfeel.

Finish - Medium - Creme brulee sugar, raisins, treacle, vanilla

Overall - 7 - Wow, I was really surprised with this.  I went in not expecting much but this came through.  That nose is as good as it should be for a perfume expert blending. The body was nice, full of fresh fruit.  The end was like a dessert but in noway overly sweet.  A really enjoyable dram.  I would probably hem and haw between buying this and classic cut.  I probably would end up choosing classic cut but maybe not.  

One thing that has annoyed me about Macallan lately is how much the price has jumped in the last few year, especially at Binny's.  I wouldn't pay Binny's price of $110 for this but I would pick up a bottle the next time I leave state and stop at a Total Wine for $80.  

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Rating system is price influenced as it is based on my shopping decisions when buying a bottle.

10 Best in Show

9 Great Dram for Special Occasions

8 Worthy of consistent spot in my collection

7 Worth picking up a bottle if in the mood

6 I would buy a bottle if it went on sale
5.5 I really enjoyed but it will never be priced at where I would buy a bottle

5 I would drink it happily if offered

4 I would drink it if offered on the rocks

3 Maybe some soda will make this potable

2 I'll Pass

1 Toilet cleaner

Inclusive Ratings

Overall 6.1

Standard Deviation 0.91

Skew 0.66

Kurtosis -0.16