The Macallan Cask Strength

The Macallan Cask Strength
Single Speyside malt Scotch whisky
No age statement (but apparently aged 10-12 years*)
58.6% alc/vol
$60

This is the second Macallan I've reviewed on this blog -- and one of my favorites so far. This one is cask strength, which means it was not diluted with water before being bottled, as most whiskies are. Thus, while most Scotches are 40-46% alc/vol, this big guy weighs in at a hefty 58.6% (116 proof)!

Keep this in mind when drinking cask strength whiskies. The high alcohol content means you should drink it more sparingly than usual, so you don't get sloppy drunk (unless that's your goal, of course!). It also means you should be careful when nosing and tasting it, since it can numb your sense of smell and taste, and inhaling its vapors deeply can be uncomfortable or even painful. If you usually like to dilute your whisky before nosing it, dilute this one a bit more; if you don't usually dilute it, seriously consider doing so for this one.

Oh, and I should also note that this is the USA/Canada bottling, rather than the 10yo cask strength bottling available elsewhere in the world.

Notes:

The Macallan Cask Strength is a lovely brown sherry color. The nose bursts with brown sugar, subsiding into strong vanilla and caramel notes. Bananas Foster and baked apples.

It's very sweet. Creamy, thick, and sharp in the mouth; numbing. Cola. The finish is long, dry, and tingly. Oatmeal scotchies and cinnamon.

This is one of my favorite dessert Scotches. It's sweet, rich, and deeply satisfying. My bottle's almost dry, but I'll definitely pick up another. So should you.

What are you still doing here? The liquor store's still open. Get!

* Michael Jackson's Complete Guide to Single Malt Scotch, p. 357.

The Macallan 10yo Fine Oak (NOT Jim Beam)

The Macallan 10yo Fine Oak
Aged 10 years
Single Speyside malt Scotch whisky
40% alc/vol
$40

Happy new year, everyone!

So, on the Christmas list I gave my folks last month, I included "some interesting new whiskeys to try." I didn't really know if they'd go for it, but I figured, what the heck. I was also a little desperate for things to ask for. Lousy Christmas lists.

Anyway, December 25th finally rolled around, and my sister brought out a gift bag for me. I looked inside while she grinned evilly, and found a small bottle of Jim Beam bourbon. Now, my sister loves giving horribly disappointing gag gifts before bringing out the real stuff, so I wasn't worried; I figured there was more to come. And there was.

My dad and she picked out for me this lovely bottle of Macallan. I've tried a number of their scotches before, but never the 10 yo Fine Oak expression. Before even tasting it, I knew it was a great gift. I've never met a Macallan I didn't like, and it was new to me. So, thanks, Dad and Sis!

Notes:

A deep copper color. The nose explodes with orange, especially with a bit of water; a hint of molasses and gentle floral notes hide beneath the citrus, sweet and sour at the same time. A very soft, creamy texture -- really nice mouth feel.

Maybe not the most complex whiskey around, but a very satisfying one. A pleasure to imbibe! Nice job, family!

Also, while the Jim Beam was just a gag, I fully intend to taste and post about it sometime in the not-too-distant future. Because, well, why not? :)