Macallan 25 Year Old 1997 Vintage Speyside Single Malt Scotch Whisky. Single first fill Oloroso sherry butt #12/4 bottled February 2023 by Signatory Vintage for the (Andrew) Symington’s Choice collection. 660 numbered bottles.
Nose: really classic and clean, with a fantastic dry/sweet balance. It is full of raisins and blackberries, later also raspberries and pickled plums. Chocolate notes and tobacco follow closely. Then hints of caramelized almonds, walnuts, cinnamon and a little vanilla in the background, as well as light eucalyptus and polished thuja wood. Very typical Macallan (well, maybe not anymore).
Mouth: very rich again, with a lot of dark chocolate now, (Turkish) coffee, prunes and tobacco. Licorice and peppermint. Bread crust, even a slight smoky note in the background. Then syrup and hints of forest fruit jam. Some cloves and herbal notes add freshness. Subtle meaty and leafy notes. Quite dry and oaky eventually, but never bitter.
Finish: long and dark, with more dates, raisins, brown bread and a touch of smoked wood.
A dark sherry bomb reminiscent of old GlenDronach bottlings or indeed Macallan before 2000. The prices for these kind of Macallans are hard to justify (just my two cents) but this whiskey certainly belongs in a range like this. Anyway: Macallan as it should be.
MACALLAN SINGLE MALT WHISKEY
The Macallan Distillery was established by Alexander Reid in 1824 as Elchies Distillery near Easter Elchies House. Easter Elchies House dates back to 1700 and the estate itself to at least the 17th century. The Macallan Distillery is a malt whiskey distillery located in the Speyside whiskey region. The old still house was brought back into use in 2008, and Macallan Distillery now operates two still houses protecting 21 copper stills. A brand new distillery is under construction and designed to house 31 stills, keeping The Macallan among the largest producers by volume. On-site maturation is carried out in traditional dunnage warehouses and by racking in large new warehouses on the estate. Popular official releases include Macallan 18 Year Old and Macallan 30 Year Old.
