New Macallan Double Cask 12 Year Old

[William]

The Macallan 12 Year Old Double Cask is a new interpretation of the signature Macallan 12 Year Old Sherry Oak we already know.




It has been created by bringing new oak from America to Spain, where the oak casks were crafted and Sherry-seasoned before being shipped to the Macallan distillery on Speyside to mature for at least twelve years. The whisky matured in the Sherry-seasoned new American oak casks was then united with whisky aged in Sherry-seasoned European oak casks.

Naturally coloured and bottled at 40% ABV the new whisky will be a permanent part of the Macallan core range.

You can read my review of it here:

http://www.scotchmaltwhisky.co.uk/macallandoublecask12review.htm
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There's no bad whisky. Just good whisky and better whisky.

[Alexppp]

Thanks William - I did notice it on TWE and was surprised I hadn't come across it anywhere until now. I had assumed it was going to be a sherry finish so your description is a pleasant surprise.

[Forbes]

Sounds like they have returned to the old recipe, age statement and sherry and it has worked, cheers for your thoughts on it William, I will be adding a bottle to my next order.

[jwbassman]

Sounds interesting, but what does 'Sherry-seasoned' actually mean?

I'm thinking it means that the cask hasn't been used to mature sherry as such but that it has had held sherry for some (presumably only a short period of) time.

How long does sherry need to be matured for? Is it like whisky in that there is a minimum amount of time before it can be called sherry?

I've heard of the practice of pouring sherry down the drain so that the casks can be sold to the whisky industry as they are more valuable than the sherry itself...

[STUDOGG37]

I bought a bottle two weeks ago when we were in Fife, I think it is a cracking dram and value for money.
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You can't push anyone up the ladder unless he is ready to climb himself.

[Cuba]

Cheers William, great review, I had also got the idea that ithe double cask name possibly meant a sherry cask finish. Clearly not and it sounds very appealing for me, I will certainly have a bottle now..

[jwbassman]

[Cuba]

The way I understand it is when they say seasoned casks they mean sherry has been matured in the cask full term, i.e at least the 2/3 years it takes to become sherry. Sherry seasoned casks is simply a term they use to refer to a cask which has been used to mature sherry and there would be no point in going to the expense and just keeping sherry in the casks for just a few months. I don't think there is any corner cutting or marketing spin here trying to say something is more sherried than it is.

Obviously there will be a difference in sherry casks that have been used to mature sherry multiple times compared to casks that have only been used once to mature sherry but the info here is clear, new American oak casks were used once to mature sherry then shipped to Scotland and filled with Macallan. I think this has been quite creative on Macallans part to give us a new whisky which going by Williams info and review the new whisky has influences from the new American oak, European oak and sherry.

I have ordered a bottle.

[Charlie]

Sounds good to me, I will have a bottle.

[Fergie]

So Mac is Back couldn't resist. yep sounds like I will like it.

[jwbassman]

[Big Mac]

Cheers for your thoughts William, sounds good, no doubt I will have a few bottles when I can get a hold of them

[Carson]

I have always been a Macallan fan, good to hear that this a decent whisky.

[drPete]

I'm tempted - very disappointed by all recent NASty releases (including the travel retail range) so this will be worth a go .. 18 in recent years IMHO has recovered some of it's former glory.
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Talisker 18 - the rest are just details

[Alastair]

Drinking the new Macallan Double Cask tonight, it is very good.