Happy Christmas, lovely readers! When The Macallan Classic Cut was announced a few months ago, people couldn’t believe the resemblance the packaging had to the discontinued The Macallan 10yo Cask Strength. That one was a perfect Christmas dram. How about the new Classic Cut?
The people at the marketing department of Edrington aren’t stupid. They knew damn well what they had done. Releasing a product that looks very similar to a beloved, yet discontinued classic? You better be able to meet the expectations that brings along.
The Macallan Classic Cut was released exclusively for the American market, and has matured in sherry seasoned oak casks from Jerez, Spain. It has no age statement.
The Macallan Classic Cut (58,4%, OB, 2017)
Nose: Very expressive, it jumps out of the glass. Lots of sultanas, raisins and the sort. And by lots, I mean probably more dominant than I’ve ever encountered. Also vanilla, honey and nutmeg. Finally a slight burnished note, which is not okay.
Taste: Nice and creamy stuff. Lots of caramel and vanilla, and a hint of cherry syrup. The honey makes an encore on the palate, which is also quite spicy. The oak is pretty present as well.
Finish: Bitter fresh ginger, oak and sweet caramel.
Rating: 81
A very modern whisky where it feels like the oak is doing pretty much everything, and the spirit doesn’t have a whole lot to say. That’s not to say I find this unpleasant, but combine it with the burnished off-note I encountered on the nose, and I can’t rate it higher than this.
