With Edition N°5 on the way, it’s about time we have a look at its predecessor, the latest Macallan Edition No.4. This release focuses on the structure of the distillery’s trademark weighty style.
As always the packaging mentions the list of cask types used: European and American oak refill butts and hogsheads, as well as butts, puncheons and hogsheads from Vasmya, Diego Martin, Jose y Miguel Martin and Tevasa. So many types together that the potentially educational transparency becomes rather useless again…
Macallan Edition No. 4 (48,4%, OB 2018, sherry-seasoned casks)
Macallan Edition No. 4 (48,4%, OB 2018, sherry-seasoned casks)Nose: starts on mulchy notes and cooked asparagus. Dark toffee, mocha and cocoa underneath. Gets a little fresher on figs, marmalade and honey, with nutmeg and mint. Burnt nuts.
Mouth: big spicy notes now. Pepper, nutmeg and cinnamon. This mingles with chocolate and coffee. Praline. Vague raisin sweetness and fig syrup. The plain oak is quite heavy and brings down the overall complexity.
Finish: medium, on walnuts, oak spices with a bitter edge.
Indeed more of the weight character, but for me the least impressive of the series so far. There’s a bloated toffee side that I don’t like on the nose, and the palate is just as vague and too woody. Sold out unless you’re willing to pay a big premium.
Score: 80/100