Speymalt is a series by Gordon & MacPhail in which they bottle casks of Macallan. Given the (relative) rarity of the distillery, the series is only released in selected worldwide markets. Last year alone, at least ten single casks were bottled in this series. I’m looking at cask #22606309 which should be exclusively available from Wine4You (in the Belgian market at least).
Speymalt – Macallan 19 yo 2005 (56,5%, Gordon & MacPhail 2024, first fill sherry hogshead #22606309, 177 btl.)
Nose: the smell of a really good middle-aged Oloroso. Toffee and pipe tobacco, plenty of raisins, with orange marmalade and hints of cigar boxes. A subtle juicy sourness and fruitcake notes, as well as some minty and floral notes. In the background there’s even a (nice) hint of petrol or teak oil.
Mouth: quite punchy, a little hot even. Starting on orange peels, raisins and black peppercorns. Then moving to roasted chestnut, hazelnuts and a fairly winey style of sherry (closer to Madeira perhaps). A firm herbal side comes out, as well as peppermint and eucalyptus. Later it returns to sandalwood and tobacco, with hints of black tea and a drop of cinchona.
Finish: long, on peppered chocolate, marmalade and pipe tobacco.
Quite a classy Macallan, if perhaps a little ‘high pressure’. Almost an extra fortified Palo Cortado from a good cask. We see a lot of really nice (un)disclosed Macallans these days and this one is certainly in the top tier. Check Wine4You for more info.