Macallan 15

[Yellowjacket]

I saw a Macallan 15 yo, bottled 1984, with an asking price of $144. What experience does anyone have with the Mac 15 (first one I've ever seen)? Any tasting notes or impressions? In your opinion, is it worth the price?

Thanks for your input - Bob

[Ganga]

I loved the dram when I had it but I think I paid in the $40s. This was when the 18 ran $50-65. It is very sherried (kinda like the Glendronach 15 from the same time frame) which was interesting.

However, I'd suggest you would be much happier with purchasing an 18 somewhere. It seems to me that you are already looking at a collector's price so it probably doesn't represent much in terms of an investment either.

[jazz lover]

Ganga hit the nail on the head!!
I paid 60$ for the 15 yr 84 or 85?
and WOULD NOT pay the 140 plus price
stick with the 18 yr. the 88,89 bottles
are excellent.

[Deactivated Member]

Can you post a picture of the label of this bottle please.

Macallan used to release an annual 15y, then it turned into a 17y for a couple or so years, then 18y.
These are highly collectible bottlings and increase substantially in value each year if you have what I think you do.
MT

[jazz lover]

[Ganga]

MT,
As far as I know, Macallan only released to the US market the 1984 expression. It came out about 1999-00. I hadn't seen any others in stores. If there is another one it is probably older than this and is unlikely to still be on any store shelves.

[jazz lover]

[Deactivated Member]

Ganga,
the original post mentioned "bottled 1984" which means distilled 1969.
I'll have to check my dates, but the 1969 was either 15y or 17y and was before the 18y versions.
As mentioned, these are highly collectible, pretty valuable and are increasing by around 10% in value each year.
MT

PS, I have just checked against my own collection whilst typing and found that 1965 was a 17y, whilst the 1967 was 18y.
So from either 1966 or 1967 these did indeed become 18y releases.

Which means I am now totally confuddled as to which this particular bottle is.

[woodhill]

I have a 1965 which as MT says is a 17yo!

[Deactivated Member]

I also have a 1962 which I believe is a 15y, but I don't know the swapover year from 15y to 17y.
MT

[jazz lover]

[Yellowjacket]

Thanks everyone for your replies, all have been very helpful. My sincere apologies to all, I was in a hurry with my original posting and mistakenly typed "bottled 1984" when it should have been "distilled 1984" . I originally thought $144 for a 15 yo was a bit steep since I can find 18 yo's from the same time period for less. But I was unsure if there was something special about the 15 since I have not seen any others on any shelves. You have convinced me not to make the purchase.

Again, thanks a lot and sorry for the confusion - Bob

[jazz lover]

Bob, Avalon liquor in houston had the
85 distilled about 4-5 years ago.

[Yellowjacket]

Bob, Avalon liquor in houston had the
85 distilled about 4-5 years ago.

Thanks, jazz lover. I know of two Avalon stores in Houston. I'll check them out the next time I'm in the neighborhood.

[jazz lover]

BOB I think we may have already
met.I think richard for Copperfields
Liquor spoke of me to you.Were
you the one how helped me find
the 1983 Mac 18.My name is steve
I think we spoke about the Ballantine's
17 yr.If so please drop by my work
and lets talk about a get together.
I have plenty of good scotch .

[Yellowjacket]

BOB I think we may have already
met.I think richard for Copperfields
Liquor spoke of me to you.Were
you the one how helped me find
the 1983 Mac 18.My name is steve
I think we spoke about the Ballantine's
17 yr.If so please drop by my work
and lets talk about a get together.
I have plenty of good scotch .

Hey Steve! Yes, I am the same person. Good to hear from you! I'll stop by your shop next week. Looking forward to it!

Bob

[jazz lover]

O.k Bob see you then..
BTW Avalon will not have the 15 Mac
but you still can get the Bowmore 17
with the etched label.(non paper).

[Ganga]

I also have a 1962 which I believe is a 15y, but I don't know the swapover year from 15y to 17y.
MT

Yep, you are right. I did misread the post.

As for the 17 yo, those were replaced in latter 1960s with the 18 yo. I'm thinking 1965 or 1966.

I'd been enjoying Macallan for several years when the 1984 showed up. It lasted in my area about 2 years but I do hear of the occasional finds of this bottling. It was heavily sherried even by Macallan standards. This took away from its complexity. Very reminescent of the Glendronach 15 of a few years ago.