This is the second release from the Macallan Edition series, a collaboration between Master Whisky Maker Bob Dalgarno and the Spanish Roca brothers who are running El Celler de Can Roca (voted best restaurant in the world twice).
The Roca brothers and Dalgarno picked a whole list of sherry casks, nicely outlined on the box, even with the name of the supplying cooperage. There’s first-fill and second-fill, American and European oak, a bit of everything. For once I kinda felt it was too much information to really make sense or make me understand this whisky.
The Macallan Edition No.2
(48,2%, OB 2016)
The Macallan Edition No.2Nose: quite complex. It’s a drier, “forest-like” style of sherried whisky, mostly characterized by European oak. Crushed peppercorns, (ginger)bread and cinnamon. Then the typical baked apples, orange peel and berries. Golden syrup. Milk chocolate and a hint of coffee beans. Just a hint of green oak. A bit light and floral for Macallan, but nice.
Mouth: raisins, cinnamon and coffee. A generous peppery warmth. Not the usual prunes and dates, but a vague chocolate sweetness and a hint of blackberries. Toast. Treacle. Liquorice, vanilla and sweet ginger. Some earthy and grassy notes as well.
Finish: medium length, still on ginger and cinnamon, with a hint of lemon peel.
Being spicy, malty and earthy yet fairly light, this is slightly atypical for The Macallan (although they are betting on European oak a lot lately). But the result is really good and not overpriced, better value than most of their core range these days. Around € 85 but most of it is gone (Master of Malt has stock and seems to have the best price).
Score: 87/100