The Macallan - 16 May 2008 @ 7pm GMT

[Matt2]

Welcome to The Macallan Live Forum Tasting.

The Whiskies

• The Macallan Fine Oak 30 Years Old
• Any other Macallan you have....

Date and Time

• Friday 16th May 7:00pm GMT

Special guest
-

Handy Links

• The Macallan Tastings from Whisky Magazine
• The Macallan Website
• Live Tasting Page

Start time - 7:00pm GMT

For those of you who do not know what these are about, they run for generally 12+ hours and we all sit down (at various times) to taste a range of whiskies and share our notes and comments on the forum. Have a look in the Live Tasting forum for past events.

They are a great way to meet people on the forum, chat about your experiences and learn something new about the whiskies you have, and we all end up having a good time.

Please feel free to join in and post any comments or tasting notes you have. Tasting notes can be added using the Tasting Note tab on the postings page. Click here to visit the Live Tastings Page.

[Ganga]

Just a quick early check-in as I have a proposal interview this afternoon. Hopefully some good notes today on the FO30. Yep, me jealous.

Oh yes, the final poll is up for the June Tasting. Ardbeg, Bladnoch, Glenfiddich and Lagavulin. Get out the vote.

[Ryguy]

Cheers Ganga! I'll be tasting later on as well, still at work for 3 more hours.

But I'll be in and out checking on the tasting notes and chatting!

[Matt2]

I will be joining you shortly with a 30, just got let the dinner settle a bit

[TreacleSponge]

Ooh, quiet in here, isn't it? Hi C57

[TreacleSponge]

And hi Matt

[TreacleSponge]

I have a 10 and a 30, ready to go

C57, I thought Macallan doesn't use caramel? Will have to google that tho cos now I'm doubting myself.

[Willie JJ]

Hi Matt, Nick and Treacle.

I thought it was a 7.30 start

[Ryguy]

Cheers Everyone! Looking forward to reading your notes.
I really wish I could join in with a dram, but you know.....

[Willie JJ]

I have various unopened Macallans lying around the house and the distillery's decision to ignore Matt means I'll have to open some. I think it was a deliberate strategy to force us to consume our bottles

[TheShrink]

The Macallan 10 yr old

Colour : A gorgeous, rich amber

Nose : Like C57 of course I get sherry. There's a warmth there that's very enticing. The alcohol lifts the sweetness, the bite of the 40% alcohol on your nose with the whisky-ness coming through too (a touch of peat/malt aroma). I also get sweet fruit. Overly ripe peaches or the like.

Palate : Chewing gives tingles at the far edges on both sides of my tongue, nothing up the middle. Hellishly smooth, which is what I love about it. Sweet, sherry flavour for me, a slight creaminess to it that's almost cloying but the alcohol just cuts through this sufficiently to balance it. Again, I get ripe sweet fruit in the palate.

Finish : No alcohol kick in the palate but enough sweetness and alcohol to have a lush finish. Sweetness melds with this to give warmth. The malt/peat tones rise to the fore as the sherry fades. The finish lasts. Mmmm.

I really like this one, one of my personal favourites to drink when out and about in pubs!

[Willie JJ]

Hi Ryan
when will you be dramming?

[Ryguy]

I have various unopened Macallans lying around the house and the distillery's decision to ignore Matt means I'll have to open some. I think it was a deliberate strategy to force us to consume our bottles

It's going to work though, isn't it Willie

Still at work, it's gonna be close to 8-9 EST before I can.

[TreacleSponge]

OK, this is my 10..

The Macallan
Brand : The Macallan Expression : 10yo
Nose : Orange, sherry. Grass neat, which changes to straw/tea/nuts with water. Palate : Vanilla, oranges, raisins, sherry. Finish : Golden syrup, spices, ginger. Comment : It's a long time since I've tried this and it's nice to explore it a little. Colour : Burnished gold Score : 0
Age : 10 Years Old Vintage : 0 ABV : 40% Bottler : -	Type : Single Malt Region : Highland Water : a little Ice : None Glass : Glencairn Notes : -
More tasting notes by None Please do not reproduce or copy this tasting note without permission.

[TreacleSponge]

I have various unopened Macallans lying around the house and the distillery's decision to ignore Matt means I'll have to open some. I think it was a deliberate strategy to force us to consume our bottles

You make it sound like you stumble across yet another Macallan whenever you enter a room. Bottles strewn everywhere

[Ryguy]

I have some really nice ones for tonight too! I can't wait.
I've really gained an appreciation for Macallan lately that's for sure.

I have open bottles of the following to taste:

Macallan Cask Strength NAS ( 57.8%, Original Bottling )
Macallan 12yo ( 43%, Original Bottling )
Macallan 15yo Fine Oak ( 43%, Original Bottling )
Macallan 16yo ( 57.4%, SMWS, Cask #24.96, 1990/2007 )
Macallan 17yo ( 46%, Signatory UCF Collection, 9.20.90/9.25.07, Refill Butt Cask #16307, 606/667 )
Macallan 18yo ( 43%, Original Bottling, 1988 )

[Matt2]

The Macallan 30 Fine Oak
Brand : The Macallan Expression : Fine Oak 30 Years Old
Nose : Lots of ummmmm... sherry! But also some nice fruity notes, and something chemical, paint stripper? Palate : Quite smooth and gentle to start and then it kicks in. The wood and sherry dominate, tingly in the mouth. Finish : Once you've picked the big of sherried wood out of your mouth it finishes quite nicely. Going from bourbon - sherbert - sherry Comment : A big hitter, needs a little water to bring it under control. Overall a very drinkable dram - if you like wood and sherry of course. Colour : - Score : 0
Age : 30 Years Old Vintage : 0 ABV : 43% Bottler : -	Type : Single Malt Region : Scotland Water : A few drops Ice : None Glass : Glencairn Notes : -
More tasting notes by None Please do not reproduce or copy this tasting note without permission.

[Matt2]

I kind of expected to be alone in my lack of regard for Macallan. I obviously don't have the palate for it.
WM scores it anywhere from 7.75 to 8.something I find.

Its a marmite whisky, like a good Islay - love it or hate it.... I haven't had one for a while so it is nice to come back to it, although I do tire of it quite quickly. The 30 is a bit of a coffee and cigar whisky I think

[Ryguy]

I kind of expected to be alone in my lack of regard for Macallan. I obviously don't have the palate for it.
WM scores it anywhere from 7.75 to 8.something I find.

Out of interest I just checked erge's thoughts on the two I've just tried. Scores of 78 and 2 stars. Finally someone of like mind

Nick, at least you're going into this with an open mind. Some people just don't have a palate for the extra sherried stuff like Macallan. Have you had any bottles from the SMWS of Macallan? Because Macallan at CS is much much better IMO. It's not even a close race.

[TheShrink]

I've a 15 yr old Fine Oak opened which I'll try when I finish this glass . . . I'd forgotten how much I like Macallan

[TreacleSponge]

Oops, forgot to put brand in my notes. Wonder if the forum pixie will tidy it up for me?

The Shrink - was your 10yo sherried or Fine Oak?

[TreacleSponge]

I kind of expected to be alone in my lack of regard for Macallan. I obviously don't have the palate for it.
WM scores it anywhere from 7.75 to 8.something I find.

I get the impression lots of folk on the forums aren't so big on Macallans. It seems out of fashion, or is it that it tastes different from it's hey-day?

[TheShrink]

The new spangly Macallan web site doesn't mention caramel.

A cache of their old site does, saying their colour is natural so caramel's not used :
http://64.233.169.104/search?q=cache:aF ... cd=4&gl=uk

[TheShrink]

TreacleSponge, the notes I just made were on my rather pleasing sherried 10 yr old. I'll pour the 15 FO when I finish this rather splendid glass

[Matt2]

I think some people don't like it for other reasons - nothing to do with taste or flavour. Pricing, marketing as a premium malt etc have caused more than a few discussions over the years.

Looks like the pixies have been in Treacle

[TreacleSponge]

Awe Doc, you sound so content there with yer glass

Thanks Matt - aren't those li'l pixies just the best

[TheShrink]

I'm happily wedded to Macallan which I love, in all it's sherry loveliness.

But I know I'm a fickle wee soul, since I don't even suffer to have a bottle of Aberlour in my house

[Willie JJ]

Ok just opened a 2005 bottle of 10yo.

Macallan 10
Brand : The Macallan Expression : 10 yo sherry
Nose : Immediate struck matches. A little fresh paint. Its starting to breathe now. Oranges and a hint of marmalade. Heather flowers Palate : Spicy, but lacking aq little in complexity. Oily with vanilla notes. Caramelised oranges. Finish : Long and spicy. Burnt toast. Comment : First taste was uninspiring, but if you stick with it it really develops. Very pleasant dramming. Colour : - Score : 0
Age : 0 Years Old Vintage : 0 ABV : 0% Bottler : -	Type : - Region : - Water : - Ice : - Glass : - Notes : -
More tasting notes by None Please do not reproduce or copy this tasting note without permission.

[Willie JJ]

I have various unopened Macallans lying around the house and the distillery's decision to ignore Matt means I'll have to open some. I think it was a deliberate strategy to force us to consume our bottles

You make it sound like you stumble across yet another Macallan whenever you enter a room. Bottles strewn everywhere

Did I leave that bloody webcam on again?

[TreacleSponge]

I'm happily wedded to Macallan which I love, in all it's sherry loveliness.

But I know I'm a fickle wee soul, since I don't even suffer to have a bottle of Aberlour in my house

That's so sweet But we'll see if you're so loyal after a few more Live Tastings

[TreacleSponge]

Macallan 30yo
Brand : The Macallan Expression : 30 yo
Nose : Rich, dusty, spicy. Marmalade, soft vanilla. Not as sweet and fruity as the 10, although gets much fruitier and floral with water. Palate : Big. Oily. Dry. Sherry, cinnamon, a bit of bubblegum, gingerbread, apricots, toffee. Finish : Strong and long. Spices, ginger, peppery Comment : The sherry goes without saying but it's moved on enormously from the 10. Tons better, and I didn't dislike the 10. Water makes a huge difference. Colour : Burnished gold Score : 0
Age : 30 Years Old Vintage : 0 ABV : 43% Bottler : -	Type : Single Malt Region : Highland Water : yep Ice : None Glass : Glencairn Notes : -
More tasting notes by None Please do not reproduce or copy this tasting note without permission.

Thanks for the sample, Matt

[Ryguy]

W|ell, that's all the Macs I have open and the wife wants to go to the pub. So it's goodnight from me for a few hours.
Thanks for all the comments - I'll maybe re-read with some glasses of Mac in front of me another day and try to get some of these aromas and flavours!

Cheers Nick, good notes!!

[Willie JJ]

Hi Shrink
Good to have a Mac enthusiast at the tasting (Ryan hasn't got a dram yet so he isn't waxing too lyrical yet).

Because Macallan at CS is much much better IMO. It's not even a close race.

I totally agree with this. I have a couple of IB CS bottlings here that I will open later. Really looking forward to it.

[Willie JJ]

Cheers Nick. see you later.

[mikeymad]

Man, I ran home at lunch (got a new amp in the mail), but I forgot to have a beverage....

Thanks for the notes guys, will be joining in later. But it maybe 12-1am GMT.

Got a small pile of Mac's open, and maybe some to open as well.

Cheers,