Macallan Edition No. 2

Following disappointing experiences with Macallan Editions 3 and 4, I'm turning to Edition 2 to salvage the series. The previous two weren't bad whiskies, but they didn't live up to the hype or the $100 price tag, let alone the inflated secondary market prices. Let's see if No. 2 can redeem the limited edition line. Nose: Orange, vanilla, milk chocolate, apple, apricot, toffee, and malt, with notes of white/green grape. Sherry notes of plum, poundcake, raisin, and fig are present. There's very little spice, perhaps just a hint of baking spice. A huge oak note is present, but it's a quality Macallan nose, clean and elegant, if a bit reserved, especially considering the 48.2% ABV. Palate: Orange peel, apricot, and apple are prominent. More dry red fruits like raisin, date, and fig appear. I detect the milk chocolate and vanilla ice cream cake notes found in quality Macallan bottlings. Some cinnamon, black pepper, and ginger add spice. There's also honey and toffee, some walnut and almond, and abundant oak. It's the classic Macallan profile executed perfectly. Finish: Orange peel zest and ginger spice, with more milk chocolate/vanilla ice cream cake. A touch of coffee concludes the medium-length finish, with cinnamon, clove, and nutmeg providing a little warmth. This is clearly the best of Editions 2, 3, and 4. I'm rating it 4.25, which is a full star higher than the other two in my estimation. It seems this one set a high bar. I place it alongside the 15 Year Fine Oak as the top Macallan releases at this price point, sharing many similarities: both are relatively light yet very refined and elegant. Is it worth $100? Yes. Can you find it at that price? Probably not anymore. Collectors have bought them all up; you can still find 3 and 4 easily, and based on my tastings, that's no accident. I was fortunate to find this a few months ago at retail price. Every store I've checked since has been cleared out. Given this, you're better off buying the Macallan 18, which is likely the same price considering the secondary market cost of this one. Regardless, this is an outstanding effort from Macallan; they truly pulled out all the stops. So, after some critical reviews, I feel I owe Macallan a retrospective "job well done" for this fine product.

It’s time to document my journey with some of these recent Macallan NAS releases: Editions. They have put out a new bottle each year starting in 2015. These are all test batches using different blenders, cask types, and so on. The cost has stayed steady at retail – around $90-100 per batch. However, the secondary market has gone wild for Edition No. 1, with prices now nearing $1000 for a bottle. The obvious answer to that is a firm “No”. Let’s check out the 2016 version: Edition No. 2. This bottling was inspired by a restaurateur family who claim to have been named the World’s Best Restaurant twice. Wow. The Roca family. Look at the Edition No. 2 packaging for more details if you’re interested. This spirit shows a deep, sunset copper and bronze color in the Glencairn. It has an oily texture and leaves thin, fast-moving legs. It’s bottled at 48.2%. I purchased this bottle for $99 about a year ago. The aroma is a strong, sherry-forward scent with a moist, unusual, and earthy wood note providing balance. These elements dominate the nose for as long as you wish to just sit and smell. There are dried fruits, orange slices, and bright citrus if you really delve in. It’s a fantastic combination. The taste immediately grabs your attention with a burst of spicy ginger and black pepper on your tongue. The sherry arrives right on time to calm the heat and confirm this is still a Macallan at its core. It shifts towards oranges and pears around the middle before the finish re-engages your palate with robust oak and some intense roughness. This is a first for likely any Macallan I’ve sampled up to this point, and I must say it was surprising and truly remarkable. The finish is lengthy, with the usual sherry sweetness lingering, while a very warming oak and chocolate flavor coat every part of your mouth, leaving the end oily right to the last drop. Well, I have to say, this was an absolutely incredible, experimental dram that pushes Macallan beyond their usual sherry-focused comfort zone—even if just for a moment. I could support this kind of release regularly if the price and consistency were right. 4.25-4.5 stars. I can still detect the ginger. Best wishes to you all.

I completely acknowledge that I'm behind on the Macallan Edition series, but it's better to start late than never, correct? I'm sure it's common knowledge that the Edition series is an annual, innovative line from Macallan designed to push their own limits in cask blending, occasionally with external input. Edition No. 2 was bottled at 48.2% ABV and has a natural color of a deep amber/copper hue, and from what I can gather, it is non-chill filtered. This sample was provided by someone whose initial is L. On the nose: Dark, thick, and rich sherry. Sweet and savory notes. Caramel and toffee, chocolate and vanilla. Orange oil, chocolate oranges, and sherry-seasoned oak. Raisins, dried cranberries, raspberries, prunes, plums, and fruitcake. Apricots and figs, a touch of nutmeg, and a hint of clove. Quite nutty, primarily pecans with some walnuts and a little almond. A trace of black cherries, more citrus/zest, caramel apples, and light pears after some time in the glass. Slightly floral with honeysuckle and honey. Strangely, I also detected notes of grape-flavored hard candy and grape bubblegum. The palate is dominated by orange peel and oak at the forefront, followed quickly by apricots and figs. Tobacco, molasses, dark sherry, and brown sugar. It has some spice, but it's more of a wood spice than a pepper spice, although there is a slight peppery kick. Ginger, nutmeg, fruitcake, or spice cake. Chocolate, vanilla, creamy, and dark caramel. That peculiar grape candy flavor also appeared on the palate, but more like Concord grape than candy. A medium-bodied mouthfeel that coats the tongue and is dry. The finish is medium-long with orange peel, chocolate, wood spice, overripe pears, a bit tannic, and very dry. It's not the finest Macallan I've ever had, but it's not the worst either. Honestly, considering it's a Macallan, the retail price isn't too steep for what you receive at $90-100. However, in my view, it's still priced higher than its actual worth. It presents a classic Macallan sherry profile with a couple of unexpected elements. I found it enjoyable, but the excessively dry mouthfeel and finish would deter me from purchasing it again. Score: 4.25 Cheers

My journey to expand my whisky collection led me to purchase my first Macallan. I had avoided it due to common criticisms about its value and aggressive marketing. After five years of exclusively drinking bourbon and beer, I discovered scotch this summer, with Lagavulin 16 being my initial experience and preference for peaty flavors. I hadn't associated sweetness with whisky, preferring the corn notes of bourbon. The aroma was astonishing: chocolate, vanilla, wood, berries, and honey, hitting with an intensity that was the opposite of peat-forward scotches. The volume of the aroma was exceptional. I spent considerable time appreciating the scent before tasting. The palate showcased wood and vanilla prominently. While not as intensely sweet as the palate suggested, the finish offered pear and cinnamon. I would have estimated a lower ABV, but appreciated it being just over 48%. I'm unsure if this bottle was exceptional or if I've developed a strong preference for heavily sherry-finished whiskies, having only previously tried Glenfarclas 12 and 25. The store had more of this edition, and I might buy another as a backup. I welcome suggestions for sweeter drams as I plan another store visit. 4.75/5

#WhiksyBattle #1: #MaCallan Edition #2 versus #3. Both expressions are non-chill filtered, include natural coloring, and are bottled at high proof (48.2% and 48.3% ABV, respectively). Review date: 6/12/2018 1) Aromas: #2 scored 90/100 and #3 scored 91/100 Expression 2 presents plentiful dark fruit, chocolate, and ginger scents. Expression 3 offers a distinctly different bouquet—more vanilla, sweet cream, and oak aromas...along with a subtler fruit fragrance. 2) Taste: #2 received 90 points and #3 received 91 points Expression 2 is intensely sherry-driven with ginger and spice notes...remarkably rich and full of taste. Expression 3 has a smoother mouthfeel and flavor profile...less sherry influence and more akin to creme brûlée...with a very subtle, gentle smokiness on the finish. 3) Aftertaste: #2 earned 90 points and #3 earned 89 points Expression 2's impact remains in your mouth for an extended duration, finishing with spice and sweetness. Expression 3's conclusion is slightly briefer but provides a pleasant and mellow end. 4) Overall Impression: Expression 3 holds a minor advantage (91) over Expression 2 (90). While many favor Expression 2, preferences vary, and that's how it is. 5) Value: Both editions carry a high price tag for non-age statement bottlings ($100 USD each), yet they are delightful, packed with flavor, possess a high ABV, and are produced in limited runs, making them worthwhile acquisitions. #themacallan #macallancreates #themacallan #scotch #

33 bottles opened in my collection, ranked through several blind evaluations. Counting them down! #13: Macallan Edition No. 2. Single Malt Scotch. 48.2% ABV. No Age Statement. Paid $110 I am getting another bottle of this. Sometimes you just have to accept that Macallan carries a higher price. A truly excellent limited edition Macallan for around $100 is noteworthy. The entire Macallan Editions series uses the slogan “Macallan creates,” and it's more about skillfully crafting a good whisky for enthusiasts. By utilizing something like 7 casks, this whisky disregards traditional maturation. Can it still come across as a refined spirit? Yes. This is significantly better than the 12-year-old sherry oak Macallan, and even superior to the 12-year-old Glendronach. It remains exclusively sherry-forward, and it has a pleasant sharpness. A robust base of toffee, sultana, and European oak (dry) supports notes of raspberries, vanilla, and sweeter American oak that emerge from the glass. The finish is unexpectedly spicy, but I wish it had more staying power. I had believed this Edition No. 2 was the finest of the three editions so far, but I recently opened a fresh bottle of Edition No. 1, and it was clearly superior in a blind test. The Edition No. 1 has not undergone sufficient evaluation to be included in the countdown yet. No. 2 is still a commendable whisky to earn the first 90 rating on the countdown. MARK: 90/100 PREVIOUSLY, ON BATMAN: #14: Clynelish. $70. 46%. 14 years. 89/100. #15: Four Roses Single Barrel. $52. 50%. NAS. 88/100. #16: Woodford Reserve Cherry Wood Smoked Barley. $104. 45.2%. NAS. 88/100 #17: Highland Park. $90. 43%. 15 years. 88/100 #18: Glendronach. $59 (1L). 43%. 12 years. 87/100