With this sixth edition, The Macallan is completing its Edition series of intensely coloured limited releases with a heavy sherry influence.
The colour of the label for Macallan Edition No.6 gives it away: this is inspired by the River Spey which flows through the Macallan Estate. The river is home to the Atlantic salmon so they teamed up with Hardy and the Atlantic Salmon Trust.
It is a combination of five types of sherry seasoned casks (hogsheads and butts) from different cooperages, both American and European oak. It seems a few of them also come from the Huelva region, not Jerez.
The Macallan Edition No.6 (48,6%, OB 2020)
Nose: deep toffee notes and caramelized nuts alongside Ovaltine and Weetabix. Raisins and a little mocha. Gingerbread. There’s some active, spicy oak behind this, showing baking spices like cinnamon and ginger. Although there’s some plummy sweetness, I’m always missing red fruits in whiskies like this, which go nuts (ha) on things like caramel and chocolate.
Mouth: more caramel coated nuts (almonds, hazelnuts) with a peppery warmth. Cinnamon pastry and chocolate. Soaked toasted oats. Sticky toffee pudding. Some oranges and plums in the background, but still dominated by hints of cocoa and some roasted coffee beans.
Finish: medium, with drying spice (nutmeg), some leafy notes and cocoa.
Edition No.2 and Edition No.3 are still my favourites, they were brighter and more aromatic. But this is quite good and if your preferences are more towards chocolate, brown sugar and other darker notes, you’ll like it. Available from The Whisky Exchange for instance.
For those of you who like lists, here’s my ranking: 2 – 3 – 5 / 6 – 4. I haven’t been able to review the first one, sorry.