Taste: The Macallan Fine Oak 12 year old
The flavour influence of casks is said to be around 60-70% in the final product, forming a huge if variable part of the equation. The Macallan pride themselves on the quality of their casks using these only once to impart as much flavour as possible. In this Fine Oak release a variety of oak casks have come together from Europe and North America, seasoned with sherry and bourbon to provide more balance and approachability.
Age: At least 12 years old
Strength:
40%
Price:
around £75
Additional:
triple cask matured so a combination of European, American oak casks both
seasoned with sherry and American oak casks seasoned with bourbon.
Colour:
Has to be oak doesn’t it?
Aroma:
A surprising rich fruity nose featuring a combination of fresh berries dosed in
rum and sweetned with marzipan and pineapple. A faint waft of those traditional
sherry influences such as raisins, leather and chocolate underpin the whole
experience.
Taste:
I was expecting a thunderous arrival of wood but on the palate it proves more
elaborate. More dark chocolate notes, ripe pears especially, sultanas and underpinned
by the casks as if I was standing in a lumber yard with rich vanilla filling
the air.
Now
this is more like it and as with most things in life you get what you pay for
to a certain degree. I do believe this whisky is overpriced but Macallan deals
in the premium end of the market. Factoring in some of the pricing for the 1824
No Age Statement series this 12 year old Fine Oak seems more of a bargain. I’d
have no hesitation serving this to guests and letting them explore its inner
depths over the course of an evening.
