Macallan 12 years double cask review and tasting notes

The Macallan 12-year double cask is an excellent single malt whisky for novice Scotch drinkers who do not have a trained palate. It is a classic Highland distillate, clean, fresh, soft, buttery, with elegance and a velvety touch that seduces you with its sly grace.

A minor premise before moving on: Macallan 12 is this distillery’s entry-level aged whisky, the product in the 70 euro price range that has to contend with competitors’ 12–15 years.

There are at least five versions of Macallan 12, each more or less nuanced, more or less mature, and each studied to perfection to please a specific segment of the public.

And this 12-year-old Macallan double cask is meant for people who aren’t too picky and want a smooth, not too oxidized distillate with a citrusy flavor.

How is the Macallan 12-year-old double cask produced?

Its particularity is the refinement, entirely carried out in barrels used to produce sherry (50% American oak barrels and 50% Spanish oak barrels), but do not expect an oxidized or too honeyed bomb in Glenmorangie or Macallan 18 style.

No, indeed, they managed to make the distillate buttery and caramelized to the right point without sacrificing the freshness, the dynamism of the sip, or the aromatic vivacity.

If you want something riper and more caramelized, Macallan 12 sherry oak is better suited for you.

Organoleptic characteristics of Macallan 12-year-old double cask

The bouquet is sharp and dominated by orange marmalade, buttery tones that burst with joy from every pore, candied ginger, a touch of minerality that gives a solar boost, vanilla raisins, and cinnamon.

It is not a complex or pyrotechnic nose, but it does its duty without batting an eye.

Light floral finish, with the salty caramel sinking the hit.

On the palate, it is smooth, not too structured.

The alcohol takes on the loving face of raisins and cherries. It does not bite, even if it has peppery tips, plenty of ginger, and a delicate herbaceous finish that mixes with sweet spices. Very dry and clean closure.

Oxidation is felt on the palate with medicinal and dried fruit hints, but it is not as nutty and honeyed as the other brothers.

Does this mean that he is the least gifted of the 12-year-old Macallans? Perhaps it is the easiest and most immediate one to drink, but this does not mean that it is a predictable whisky to be taken for granted.

Let’s say that it represents the starting point for getting to know the drams of this glorious distillery. This is a small sip of how sumptuous these excellent spirits can be.

Food Pairings

Chocolate, salmon terrines, brisket and pulled pork, chocolate salami, apple pie, tiramisu, and crème brulée.