Macallan Rare Cask Black

Following up on the Rare Cask review, I'm now reviewing an even more special bottling, the Rare Cask Black, a travel retail exclusive. Fewer than 100 casks were chosen for this unique expression from Macallan. The description states it's crafted mainly from first-fill sherry seasoned oak casks containing a rare peated Macallan spirit, selected by the master whisky maker from under 100 casks. It promises an unparalleled character, blending rich intensity with distinct smoky flavor. I've kept the original European spelling. Bottled at 48% ABV, likely non-chill filtered and natural color. The appearance is striking: a deep red amber, like dark autumn leaves or dark maple syrup, mesmerizing in soft light. At 48% ABV, it requires a few minutes to settle, otherwise, the alcohol is overpowering on the nose. Initial sherry notes are present, along with dates and raisins, mirroring its dark color. Sherried oak and fruits dominate. A subtle thread of peat underlies the aroma, an earthy peat rather than smoky as anticipated. With more time, a significant sweetness emerges: sticky toffee, caramel, vanilla, and a strong maple syrup presence. Baked pear with cinnamon and nuts, perhaps a hint of mint. Tobacco and new leather surface before the faintest whiff of bonfire smoke appears. Maple syrup returns, joined by orange notes as the liquid level drops. Like the standard Rare Cask, the aroma is captivating, but this is fuller and more refined. Describing the palate was challenging as each sip led to contemplation of its elegance. It is rich, robust, and intense, with a sweet and spicy arrival, featuring oak, cinnamon, dates, raisins, and new leather. The mouthfeel is oily and coating, transitioning to a dry, leathery finish in an excellent way. The finish is exceptionally long; hours after finishing a serving, the dates and maple syrup sweetness remain prominent, lingering extensively. I found this bottle at the duty-free shop at the Windsor-Detroit Tunnel. After hesitating due to the price, a friend's encouragement led me to splurge on what might be one of Macallan's rarest modern expressions. I'm very pleased I did. It's well-aged, elegant, and intensely satisfying, elevating the experience to superb. At $350 tax-free for 700mL, it was my most expensive purchase, but I'd buy it again without hesitation. A perfect score with joy, and anticipation of sadness when it's gone.

A good friend generously sent me a substantial sample of the travel exclusive Macallan Rare Cask Black around the holidays. This is a special release advertised as a blend of 100 casks that previously held peated whisky from an unnamed distillery. After some research, I'm making an educated guess that the casks used were from Highland Park, also owned by the Edrington Group. Given the complete absence of peat, brine, and smoke, I'd also infer they are second or third fill. I couldn't detect any trace of peated whisky. This was virtually identical to the widely available Rare Cask (which is still a fantastic single malt). On the nose, there are abundant amounts of sherry and dark fruits, figs, and raisins. It's a pleasure just to sit and smell this whisky. Almost any other expected notes like oak, vanilla, or cinnamon are completely overshadowed by the sweet sherry wine. The palate is very characteristic of this brand: so sweet your fillings ache. Those dark fruits resemble sugary fruit juice more than whisky. It's remarkably smooth with a pleasant warmth at the end from the 48% ABV. It's damn good. The finish is medium in length, oily, and sweet. There's a gentle, warming sensation that lingers, encouraging another sip and another. So, I obliged. Overall, I gave the original Rare Cask a well-deserved 5 stars, and the Rare Cask Black is equally wonderful. However, I have to deduct points because I was expecting some peat or smoke and it wasn't present. My sincere thanks to my great friend for finally relenting to my persistence and purchasing a bottle of this. Even more thanks for sending me about a fifth of the bottle to sample. I would never have been able to obtain this on my own. Although I sent him some good whisky in return, I still feel indebted to him. Thanks, man. You. Are. The. Best. To everyone else – I highly recommend you try this if you happen to see it locally. It's as rare as its name suggests and well worth the price. Rated 4.75 stars. Cheers.

Continuing my exploration of Macallan's offerings, I'm now sampling their Rare Cask Black, bottled at 48% ABV. The nose is smooth, leading with a blend of damp grapes, tropical fruit custard, and old leather-bound books, followed by dark chocolate truffles, dried figs, a faint whiff of pipe smoke, and a deep minerality. Notes of black cherries, apricots, and orange blossoms transition into ginger, cloves, cardamom, and polished antique furniture, with a moderate alcohol burn. The taste has a medium body, starting with creamy tropical fruits, then a mild peppery spice that gradually gives way to musty grapes, vanilla crème brûlée, and dusty leather-bound books. This is followed by a dark chocolate spicy mocha, figgy pudding, light sweet pipe tobacco smoke, and deep minerality. Notes of black cherries, apricots, and orange blossoms reappear, transitioning into ginger, cloves, cardamom, and polished antique furniture, with a moderate alcohol burn. The finish is long, featuring creamy tropical fruits, dark chocolate-covered figs, tart cherries, espresso, light pipe tobacco smoke, ginger, cloves, dusty leather-bound books, and polished antique furniture. This is an outstanding dram. The nose is complex and beautifully crafted, starting with a tart profile before shifting to sweet tropical fruits, aged oak, rich chocolate, berries, subtle minerality, and a hint of smoke that carries through to the palate. After a brief, mild spice, it finds its balance, concluding with a long, lingering finish that begins sweet and fades into light smoke, spices, and aged oak. Compared to the 2020 Rare Cask edition, the additional 5% ABV has intensified the flavors and provided a richer mouthfeel and a longer finish that was absent in the 2020 version. The peated malt offers a very subtle smoke that could easily be overlooked.

Enjoying a peaceful Mother's Day with my wife, complete with sushi, a movie, and now a whisky. The color is distinctive, resembling cognac or brandy—a deep, dark amber. Rich sherry notes of dark fruits and assorted nuts: currants, dates, figs, black cherries. Molasses or dark brown sugar sweetness. A hint of tanned leather or suede. Deep within the aroma, there's a trace of damp tobacco. The nose is captivating and enjoyable for extended inhalation. Sweet and profoundly rich. The palate offers an initial fruity sweetness, reminiscent of fruit juice, with spice and oak enveloped in a medium-light body. Cinnamon, vanilla, toffee, raisins; all rich and deep. The sweetness is subtle, not overpowering—a refined, non-sugary dessert. This dram improves and deepens with time. A long finish transitions between orange bitters and charcoal. Some woodiness leaves the palate slightly dry. A minty sensation emerges between sips. The key challenge for a whisky, in my view, is achieving balance: not too sweet, not overly dry, and possessing peat/smoke without being dominant. This Macallan strikes that balance exceptionally well. It's sweet but not syrupy, fruity but not juicy—a true pleasure. Simply magnificent. Many thanks to a friend for providing the sample. This is a rare opportunity for many. Thanks for the chance. [95/100][Tasted: 5/12/18]

Sometimes expectations are defied, leading to an unexpected, darker, and more intense experience. Not bad in a negative way, but shocking, like a sweet demeanor suddenly revealing a provocative side. This is quite surprising. I recall visiting my cousin in Mumbai as a teenager. A charming girl lived across from our building, only about 10 feet away due to the city's density. I asked my cousin to play a romantic Hindi song about a 'piece of the moon living across my window.' Instead, he played something akin to an explicit request for a striptease. The girl closed her window, ending my imagined serenade. This whisky is similar. I anticipated an elegant, refined Macallan, but received something different—darker and more rugged, in a positive sense. I'd tried the standard Rare Cask but preferred this one for its unexpected shift and complexity. Abundant dark fruits are present, supported by a smoky backbone. It's not overpowering but enough to make you question what you're tasting. Many thanks to a friend for this sample. It's hard-earned, so I appreciate the generosity in sharing it.

I selected another high-profile whisky for my 300th official review. This Macallan Rare Cask Black is supposedly a "smoky" Macallan, which makes it distinctive. It appears the smoky Macallan originates from aged whiskies stored long ago at the distillery. Spoiler alert: it's not that smoky. Bottled at 48% ABV, it has a very dark red, old oak color. Beautiful. On the nose, it resembles a Dalmore. Wedding cake, brown sugar cake, cherry, red fruits, red wine, sugary notes, intensely sweet – I can't find the peat yet. Caramelized apple, perhaps a subtle English sauce common in peaty whiskies, sherry, blackberries. It's a Dalmore. It doesn't smell like a typical Macallan at all. An amazing aroma, truly amazing. On the palate, it's pleasant, delivering what was promised on the nose: almonds, nutmeg, licorice, oak, sherry, raisins, figs. The aftertaste has a very faint, well-controlled peat, subtle ginger spice, and ash, but it's very enjoyable. Medium-short length. Overall, this deserves a 93 out of 100. For a $500 bottle, I believe you can get a Dalmore 12 for $60 or a King Alexander III for $150. Cheers!