Macallan Speymalt 2005

This Macallan Speymalt 2005 from Gordon & MacPhail is an independent bottling from the renowned Macallan distillery. As I'm not a huge fan of Macallan, I find an independent release quite intriguing. On the nose: Banana and a sweet, aged fried green banana from Ecuador, like Maduro. Gummy bears, plantain, banana bread. After the first taste, the aroma became damp, reminiscent of a library with old books. Notes of oranges, dark cake, and Raisinets are also present. On the palate, I detect banana bread, fine vanilla, and toffee. There's also a thick orange note. It's delicious. Aftertaste was quite spicy, with notes of hay, chili, butterscotch, dark chocolate, and tobacco. Overall, this was a triumph. A genuinely pleasant experience, this is how Macallan ought to be. I rate it 96 out of 100. A remarkably interesting and complex dram.

The aroma is rich with buttery caramel. Wonderful. The taste is of medium spice and rich fruitcake. The finish is medium-short, with lingering spice and some oak. A delicious drink, though I think it would be better at cask strength, but that's just my personal preference for most whiskies.