Macallan Fine Oak 18 Year

The next bottle on my list of Christmas gift tastings is this gem. Here's how it happened. I'm out for a nice dinner with my wife, who has been indifferent at best towards my whiskey passion, and I inquire about the price for a pour of Laphroaig Lore, Yamazaki 18, and Macallan 18. The cost isn't the main point, but you should know this establishment was charging more for the Mac 18 than the Yamazaki 18, though I digress. I had already had a few cocktails, and the prices they quoted for each of those drinks seemed too high considering my state of inebriation. Fast forward to Christmas morning, and I unwrap a bottle of Wild Turkey Rare Breed my wife purchased for me (success!), and she strongly states she won't be buying me any more whiskey. Fair enough. I acquired quite a bit last year. After opening gifts, I prepare breakfast, and we proceed with our Christmas day, when she presents another gift for me, and inside is this bottle. My jaw nearly hit the floor. Typically, I avoid Macallan's excessive pricing (in my view), but my wonderful wife outdid herself this year. High marks solely for that. It certainly appears distinguished on my shelf, but how does it taste? The aroma is similar to the few other Macallans I've sampled: crisp, clean, well-balanced, indicative of excellent cask management and quality. It required some time for the aroma to develop, approximately 20-30 minutes in the glass before nosing. This "fine oak" expression incorporates both bourbon and sherry aged malt, and the harmony is evident. Well-blended. No single note dominates the others. Clearly a cohesive blend. On the palate is where the age and the oak make their presence known. Rich, coating, slightly astringent, subtly fruity, it lingers on the mid-palate, and then dries out on the finish. I would prefer a somewhat longer, more robust finish, but that's the consequence of 43% ABV with chill filtration. I suppose the casks impart their character after 18+ years. I admit, I haven't tried many Macallans. Their price point generally seems like a poor value for money to me, and I can obtain superior sherry-aged malts (and have) for considerably less. Many online videos compare this one (and the sherry cask version) directly with the Glendronach 18 (I know, I frequently mention Glendronach, but they are that exceptional to me), and the GD consistently emerges as the winner. The reviews I've read for this specific bottle are not exactly encouraging, but here are my conclusions: This is a refined malt. The aroma, palate, flavor, and finish are all meticulously crafted for a particular experience. No intense sherry, no overpowering oak notes, no peat. Just a pure, curated experience. It evokes the feeling of an elegant, multi-course French meal, where every element is precisely placed and the subtlety of flavor is appreciated. This bottle also now holds sentimental value for me as it was a gift from my wife, who went to great lengths to find it with minimal knowledge of whiskey. My final score is a 92, and if other Macallans appear in my collection, I eagerly anticipate those experiences as well. Cheers!

This was sampled at a complimentary in-store tasting. Over 100 whiskies were available at no cost. No brand reps were present. No one pressured sales. The spirits were allowed to speak for themselves - outstanding. Together with my spouse, we tried: This bottle Glenrothes 18 year OB Ardbeg 13 year Chieftains cask strength Bunnahabhain 29 year John Milroy cask strength Kilchoman OB private single bourbon cask Compass Box The Spaniard Glen Scotia 15 year OB On initial smell, it seems designed to be agreeable. It's quite light, and I struggle to identify any specific notes. I lean in deeply until my spouse points out my nose shouldn't be so close to the glass. I inhale deeply. And I detect the fried corn from the Tostitos being offered nearby. Clearly, the world of whisky is splitting. Some whisky is made for enjoyment, and this category must be preserved. Then there's whisky for social media, where the contents are secondary. This category has a purpose, and I can no longer fault Macallan. It seems to be deliberately drawing attention from those who value exclusivity over the spirit itself. Macallan isn't for sipping, not even their core range. It's for photography and marketing. They released a 12 year double cask that was demonstrably inferior to their 12 year sherry oak. Then, they produced a new 12 year sherry oak that is worse than the double oak version. They've made this 18 year old "fine oak" which smells less mature than their prior 15 year old. While I haven't tried their 17 year old fine oak, I greatly enjoyed a 2011 bottling of their 21 year old, and I also appreciated older Macallans from Douglas Laing that were solely bourbon matured. Therefore, I'm not just searching for a Macallan sherry bomb; I'm seeking something more potent than Tostitos. Disregarding cost and brand recognition, my assessment of Macallan's current core range is that it's unmistakably low-tier. Macallan is undrinkable because it is both subpar and excessively valuable. So, I abstained from tasting this. Despite it being free, I didn't want to expend any of my alcohol allowance on artificial luxury. My spouse consumed the entire sample, remarking, "This doesn't even taste like Macallan. I detect no sherry. I taste nothing." She used to be a huge Macallan enthusiast, so if these recent releases fail to impress her, that speaks volumes to me. Score: 0 / 5 (including cost)

This Fine Oak expression was much more impressive than the Macallan Rare Cask, which I found to be excessively sherried. The inclusion of whisky aged in ex-bourbon casks makes a significant difference. They combine it with whisky aged in sherry-seasoned American and European oak. The American oak intended for sherry seasoning is processed and dried in Kentucky, then sent to Jerez, Spain, for 18 months of saturation before returning to Scotland for filling and aging. This Fine Oak range is no longer produced and has been succeeded by their new Triple Matured release, which uses the same three barrel types; however, the 21, 25, and 30-year-old versions are unavailable. If you can find this bottle for approximately $220, I suggest purchasing two and storing one away. Investing in bonds with a 5% dividend will double your money in 14 years, whereas a Macallan 18yo bought 14 years ago has increased in value by 1,000 percent! This is an exceptional whisky! A nose laced with sherry and bourbon ethanol is elegant. A touch of bourbon spice on the palate prevents the sherry from dominating and allows hints of dried fruits, hazelnuts, citrus, and sweet vanilla to emerge in perfect harmony. The long, smooth finish is full of lemon and orange citrus, with just enough sweetness to temper a slight touch of the expensive oak that Macallan uses. The quality is very apparent. A strong 4 stars.

Macallan and Jim Murray...alright, I won't complain. The latter favors the former and highly regards this particular expression. I truly gave this spirit a fair shot. I cleared my palate with an average whiskey, and waited a minute for each year of its age. Could this be the one? Okay, the positives. Pleasant viscosity, notes of honey, golden syrup, a hint of toffee, and a touch of orange. Unfortunately, it's somewhat bitter and astringent, which lingers in the aftertaste. It's supposed to be sherry finished, but I detect none of that. Overall, not too bad, perhaps a 3.5 at best, but at around $250 USD, like most Macallans, it's significantly overpriced. I'd consider a third of that price to be reasonable. A 3 it is when value for money is factored in. My experiences with Macallan haven't been great, but I've heard Rare, Rare Black, and Edition 2 are Macallan at its finest, so perhaps one day I'll discover the reason for the hype. As a side note, I opened a sample of 1991, 24-year-old, 49.2% Glendronach immediately after this...no waiting for 24 minutes or anything, and wow, a lower price and a vastly superior result.

Aroma - Rich, warm cooked apples, golden raisins, dried apricots, toasted candied ginger. Taste - Golden raisins, baked ripe apples, wine-poached pears, mild candied ginger spice/heat/warmth, gentle apple skin bitterness. Finish - Lingering mild warmth, balanced caramel with cooked apples. Score - 86/100 Final Thoughts - This is a very well-balanced dram. Nothing is off-putting, and the nose is great for such a low proof. It's a very tasty dram, not heavily sherried like their sherry cask 12. A nice balance of light stone fruits and gentle oak. Tasty, but not amazing. Would I drink it if offered? - Yes Would I specifically order it? - Perhaps? Would I buy a bottle? - No, not at the prices they charge

This spirit perfectly suits my whiskey preferences. I'm quite enamored with it. When I consider enjoying a fine drink, this is what comes to mind. It's unfortunately very pricey, but exceptionally good. My next savings goal is definitely the 21-year-old.