Macallan Double Cask 15 Year

The finish is the weak point of this whisky. An additional two or three points in ABV would have significantly improved such a lacking finish. It's worth noting that The Macallan 18 Year Old Double Cask is notably superior, even at a low 43% ABV. Is the difference due to three additional years in wood, or is there another factor? It's difficult to determine. On the other hand, The Macallan 15 Years Old Double Cask is better than its Triple Cask counterpart, even from previous years. Well done. Apart from a weak finish in the current 15-year-old Double Cask release, there's also the hint of gunpowder in the aroma to consider. Sulfur compounds are tricky and can unfortunately be associated with sherry wood usage in the aging process. In this instance, the note is far from overwhelming. However, even a (metaphorical) hint of a smoking gun can cause some individuals to politely cover their glasses if a second serving is offered. As a disclaimer, it should be noted that a dislike for light sulfur notes in a whisky's aroma is subjective. This perspective is by no means universal or definitive.

The aroma has less acetone compared to the 12 double cask—surely the extra 3 years made it smoother. It's sweet, with notes of toffee, butterscotch, a touch of dried fruit, milk chocolate, and vanilla. The palate is also sweet, much more so than the 12 yr. It's a little spicy, with cinnamon, white pepper, caramel, clove, raisin, and toffee again. The finish isn't long but isn't too short either. I purchased this bottle abroad, and with the exchange rate and taxes, it came to $120, so I decided to buy it. It's a 700ml bottle, but I don't feel unsatisfied or disappointed. I think I'd rather save money and drink this one instead of the 12 yr Double Cask, but that's because I have relatives in Colombia who can bring me a bottle every three months or so.

Happy holidays to my scotch-loving family. It's been too long since I last posted. While I've enjoyed many drinks since my last review, I haven't shared them with you. This Speyside has a lingering quality that someone like Hugh Hefner would have admired, though he is no longer with us. Typical bold fruity notes lead this delightful drink. Around the fourth sip, hints of licorice emerge. If you have the funds, don't hesitate to purchase this bottle from the liquor store; it's worth it. If you're short on cash, it's acceptable to wait for your next paycheck; a standard Macallan 12 will suffice.

It certainly starts with strong sherry. It opens up a bit with some airplane glue. Dried fig and coconut appear as it opens. The smell does begin to improve as the airplane glue dissipates. As it opens further, more dried fruit appears, after about 40 minutes. Oh yes, the caramel is there now with light chocolate! On the palate, surprising spice emerges with baking spice and even some pepper. Vanilla is in the background. I'm liking it now more than I was expecting! Also raisin. A nice toasty fruit cake. I really didn't want to like this one so much because I'm annoyed with the brand, but it is a very fine drink.

Aroma: Malty, dried fruity, subtle hints of baking spice, very basic. Taste: Essentially the same as the aroma, very red fruity but not clearly sherry. Very smooth, not complex, somewhat thin. Thoughts: Given the price of this bottle, one would anticipate better quality. Nearly every scotch I own (excluding Aberlour 16) surpasses the Macallan 15 in value, flavor, aroma, and mouthfeel. I would never buy this for myself unless I had a yacht and disliked finer whiskies. On a positive note, this is the only whisky my wife has actually enjoyed.

Nose. Very subdued aroma. The most prominent note is a distinct maltiness, with faint red fruit sherry undertones and even fainter vanilla. Palate. The mouthfeel is thin. The flavors mirror the aroma: good maltiness, red fruit, a bit of vanilla. Everything is very muted, and the finish is quite short. Nothing offensive here, just everything is very subdued, thin, and unremarkable. You could find something better for less money.