Macallan 1824 Series Ruby

Amsterdam. A bar. Not a bad selection considering many establishments nowadays offer a poor whiskey assortment (and seem to stock an enormous quantity of that dreadful gin, which I detest). Naturally, you can't go wrong with Laphroaig, but I desired something different and noticed the Ruby, a highly unconventional choice for a bar in Amsterdam. So, I expressed my gratitude to the bartender for his selection, and he mentioned it's always a challenge to convince management to stock superior whiskeys, stating that if it were up to him, the Ruby would be the starting point of his offerings. Hear, hear! Let's address this upfront: I believe the Rare Cask surpasses this one significantly and is also considerably less expensive, given the Ruby retails here for €330-350. A previous review is quite accurate. The NOSE is simply superb, figs and vanilla. The PALATE is exactly as anticipated and desired on a summer evening in Amsterdam: more figs, more vanilla, it's spicy, with minimal to no smoke, which is appropriate for this expression, and the FINISH is long, fruity, jam-like, with dark bitter chocolate. I cannot assign the highest rating because the Rare Cask is truly exceptional and sets the standard for Macallan for me, with the 18 Year Sherry Oak being my personal favorite. Therefore, if the Ruby were €100 cheaper, it would be an ideal purchase. However, I can imagine the management at Macallan chuckling and saying, "Come on, Hud, work a bit smarter and earn more money, then you could buy a whole hogshead and store it in your barn, so stop complaining" hahaha. Anyway, it's a nice dram, but get this: beside me, two Americans are ordering a Drambuie and Baileys. I mean, what is the world coming to?! I'm all for breaking gender stereotypes and promoting diversity, but with Laphroaig, Highland Park, and the Ruby available, a male Homo sapiens should NOT be ordering effing Drambuie and Baileys! Am I right or what?!!! "Calm down and finish the dram, buddy," says a corporate woman to my left, observing my screen. "It's a matter of taste, not gender." Thanks, Mom. No, I didn't mean that; apologies. Oh God, stop writing. What is happening in the world?!! Cheers!:-)

2oz pour. I experienced this at the 2 Michelin-starred Ramon Freixa in Madrid, Spain. They presented the bottle on a silver platter. While the food, which I highly recommend, was exceptional, this did not overshadow it. I do recommend this whisky, though, just as a single serving. It's uncertain if bottles are still available or if their value has increased significantly since discontinuation. High-end European restaurants are likely your best option for finding it. The Macallan Ruby offers a well-balanced, complex, and rich sherry profile with notes of figs, plums, tobacco, and chocolate. You won't find this in the US. We received a supposed upgrade called the Rare Cask, which is overhyped nonsense. They could have just put 'jizz' in the box and it would make as much sense as the lengthy explanation of its supposed greatness. This Macallan Ruby is more authentic. It exclusively uses first-fill Jerez sherry casks, a straightforward declaration that the Rare Cask cannot make. You can embellish it all you want afterward. Yes, this is diluted and likely a blend of 10-20 year olds, but those traditional Jerez casks, untouched by previous whisky, are Macallan's hidden gems. Releasing a whisky solely from these first fills in 2012 was remarkable. We may never again see a mass-produced Macallan utilizing only these casks. Unlike the rest of the 1824 range, this was an impressive dram. 92/100

It's good, just not exceptional. The color is clearly indicative of first-fill sherry. However, for a no-age-statement product, it's rather pricey. I'm personally not convinced that this particular NAS warrants this cost. I would rather purchase a Yamazaki 18 for $100 less, or a Balvenie 21 yr Portwood for $100 less. Based on the taste, I'm sure the Balvenie 21 and Yamazaki 18 are both older than this. (I made an educated guess that this might be around 16 years old)

Very pleasant with notes of dark dried fruits, berries, and honey. Nose: Raisins, Raspberries, Honey, Figs, Apricots, Prunes, Ginger, Christmas Cakes, Sultanas, Pineapples, Dates, Nutmeg Palate: Morello Cherries, Honey, Toffee, Raisins, Dates, Cinnamon, Almonds, Milk Chocolate, Lavender, Violets, Raspberries, Leather, Tobacco Finish: Raisins, Nutella, Luxardo Cherries, Plums, Butterscotch, Vanilla, Figs, Blackberries, Treacle

An excellent whisky matured in a first-fill sherry cask. Hints of sherry influence, sweetness, dried red fruits, a touch of oak, and honey on the nose. After a few minutes, the aromas become more pronounced. The palate is rich with dried fruits (predominantly raisins), dark chocolate, and oak. It's oily and sweet but becomes slightly dry towards the very end. The finish is long, featuring oak, chocolate, and spices.

In my estimation, this was exceptionally good. A singular burst of diverse flavors, featuring that earthy, woody character I appreciate so much in Macallan creations. I first sampled this at a friend's place, and each subsequent visit, I found myself opting for a pour of this, even when offered a taste of a rare cask.