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From: ralfystuff
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  • I am very new to scotch whiskeys. I am thinking of getting a bottle of Macallan 12. I can get it for $42 tax free where I'm at. Is that something I should pursue. My other options are Glenlivet 15 for $50 and Johnnie Walker Green for $45. Any preference there? I've heard of the Macallan name, so I'm leaning towards that.

  • Found the Select Oak 1824 series in the duty free shop in the airport. Picked up a bottle because it was decently affordable. Interesting single malt. I prefer it to the fine oak at least. The sherry cask is most noticeable, but some of the sweet bourbon comes through in the finish. Any thoughts on why Macallan would have a series devoted only to travel retail? Suckers like me?

  • @BShell89

    simply because it sells !

  • Which whiskey has gotten Ralphey's highest rating? 

  • @OTEP1234567891011

    Signatory single cask Mortlach. (all gone now)

  • "At The Macallan, natural colour is something we insist on, it is the interaction of spirit and wood alone which delivers the rich diversity of colour evident through the Macallan range."

    The Macallan website reiterates this claim.

    I admire Ralfy's passion and refer to his reviews as soon as Broom's and Jackson's , but I'm confident Macallan does not use E-150. I just bought a 12 y.o. and like to believe that The Macallan has enough respect for its drinkers not to mislead them.

    Cheers

  • @tsitzer

    If there's no E150a in Macallan Malts, it should be stated clearly on the label "Natural Colour".

    This would show respect for the customer.

  • @tsitzer The way Macallan word that statement seems very legalistic and ambiguous. Why do they say the wood interaction adds 'diversity of colour' rather than just the actual colour itself? 'We insist on' - Insisting on something isn't the same as stating that something is the case. Look at the way Glenlivet Nadurra (meaning 'natural') clearly states 'nothing added' in the packaging then we find out it has E150 in it from the export bottles. Sorry maybe I'm just being over suspicious.

  • @chrish12345

    The purpose of my comment was to incite reaction, and I believe you and Ralfy are right on the mark. The language is ambiguous, but I attribute it to branded eliticism rather than evasive description. The situation's frustrating; for me, a bottle's an investment.

    Coincidentally, I am sitting next to and hap'ly sipping the 54.2% 6/11N Nadurra. What a scotch, complex and pure. See Ralfy, Peatluvr's reviews. But the "craft presentation" is lacking. Accuracy, specificity.

  • Comment removed

  • your opinion the 12 yr???

  • @Hamporkcheese

    OK but variable !

  • Sorry haha. What about the other Macallan scotches?

  • @kryptos7799

    some are not so good, so beware what you go for, I would avoid the Fine Oak range.

  • What about the other macs,,an

  • @kryptos7799

    avooid the Fine Oak range and don't pay too much for the decent 18yo.

  • I want your job

  • That "metallic" odd flavor you mention, the one that remains after a sip seems to me to be present in the 12year old as well. if you can narrow your senses a bit It almost resembles a green Spanish olive. I really had to think about it for a bit, and for the most part I can excuse it because the flavors in this malt are wonderful. Disappointing that there is artificial coloring added to this malt, I think your score is a little low, but it's your video. Thank you for sharing your thoughts.

  • I just bought a bottle of macallan and it looked no where near as dark as this, maybe they have recently removed the 150

  • @ozstriker1984 I concur. I've just purchased a bottle today and its nowhere near as "tanned" as Ralfys bottle, they've changed the label too.

  • My bottle of the ten year old is light honey colored nd quite pale. The box says natural color. I can't believe how dark yours is Ralfy!! I do enjoy this whisky, The first glass was almost uneventful but as it decants (slowly) it is begining to open up and show its true colors. I find no trace of e150 in my bottle. 85/100

  • thanks, I'll save my money because I have been eyeing MCALLAN up for a moment and got close to bying it...

  • There is a hint on the package not on the bottle that macallan insists on natural colour which means no e150 is added by the way great whisky

  • @alraune149

    there should never be any E150a in Malts, and ALL Distillers should state clearly on the bottle NO E150a otherwise we can safely presume there is (or they will add E150a if they want to at some point).

    Malt whisky producers should not be economical with the truth. ... it's disrespectful to customers.

  • @ralfystuff

    So far this macallan 10 Years Sherry Oak to me is one of the very best whiskies I come across.

    But you´re probably right. I myself prefer scotch whiskies without e150 since it is no lemonade ;)

    So far I´m still searching for a sherry oak and bourbon oak influenced whisky (like glenfarclas 15) but with a hint of peat (old fashioned style?) could it be the FINEALTA (e150???) Any recommendations?

    regards! Keep on doing your videos! I like them very much.

  • @alraune149

    look out for GlenDronach 15yo and single cask versions.

  • Isnt it dissapointing that such a big company dont want to give their customers their best whiskys?

    Why E150?

    Why not hire the maltgod Ralfy to take his time and make their whisky great and not just a big selling label without the whisky to back that up?

    By the way Ralfy, i too got a metallic hint in this one, almost like corroded aluminium.

  • That's if you agree with the claim that it really changes over time. Thanks,

  • @111ImNumber1 It seems my first comment did not go through. I was asking if a good bottle of whisky gets mild after a while since it's been open. If so, roughly within how many days should it be consumed. Thanks,

  • @111ImNumber1

    once opened, a bottle of whisky will change over time due to oxidisation by air contact, ... it usually mellows at first but over time becomes 'stale', however this can take a long time (several years) depending on your luck !

  • @ralfystuff So, would you say that a 5-month period won't have effect on a good bottle of whisky (i.e. macallan sherry oak 18) and the bottle will remain intact? Thanks,

  • @111ImNumber1

    in a cool, dark cupboard away from sunlight and warmth, ... 5 months should be no problem, and you can extend bottle-life by decanting to smaller bottles to reduce air contact.

  • I happan to like Macallan, i guess were all different, but if ur interested i would recommned the 12 yr old, and the Cask Strength

  • Hey Ralfy, Jim Murray claims that the Macallan 10 is improving in his 2010 Whisky Bible....do you place any credence in him, and would you be inclined to check the Mac 10 out again?

  • @jlim2397 sorry, i mean the 2011 Bible lol

  • @jlim2397

    all opinions are worth consideration but no one opinion should dictate your appreciation of anything !

  • ok thanks also i got another question....what are the difference characteristics of whiskey produced from highland and speyside cos they both contain two of my favourite whiskeys....glenmorangie and macallan

  • @justinlow1990

    character and flavour profiles, check out the MAltManiacs.

  • hey ralfy, would you recommend the macallan 12 year old seeing how the macallan 10 year old was so disappointing....

    I am trying to compare this to the glenmorangie original and seeing which one i prefer...

  • @justinlow1990

    I am told the 12 is better than the 10, but am not convinced !

    I generally avoid Macallan.

  • Hey Ralfy, excellent job! I've a quick question. what is the difference between Macallan 25 yr (fine oak) and Macallan 25 yr (sherry oak)? And what would you prefer? thank you.

  • @111ImNumber1

    difference is oak casks used for maturation,  ... and I don't really bother with either one.

  • your reviews are great and i love watching them, quick question, is it true you should, when opening a new bottle let it sit uncorked for 20 minutes or for any amount of time , i heard this somewhere and would welcome your thoughts. Enjoying auchentoshan 12 yo as i ask my question.

  • @drinkinsin

    I recommend doing this as it allows the whisky to 'breathe' a little opening up the flavour range

    ... good luck !

  • Me, my old dad and brother had a go with a 12 yo macallan this most recent new years eve. We all really enjoyed the smoothness and kind of sweet side of it and also we got a small flashback of cognac from it, quite interesting. I can't tell if there was something metallic going on there, but maybe I'm just not that much of a whiskey expert...yet. However I love it, thumbs up.

  • I was watching a SingleMalt.tv interview with the master distiller at Macallan and in it he insisted several times over the course of the interview that Macallan is bottled at natural color. Now I would take him at his word if it weren't for the fact the label doesn't state natural color or non-chill filtered.

  • @shuboy05

    Thry should state clearly on the label No Caramel, however the reason they don't is probably down to Whisky politics !

    ..... which is not being respectful to the customer.

  • @ralfystuff I'm not sure if this is a regional thing or a new development, but I purchased a bottle of this earlier in the week and the box it came in read "we insist on natural colour" on the back. I'm glad that's what they've decided to go with- after all, if they don't trust their whisky, why should I? Now if only they'd bottle it at slightly higher strength...

  • @snafu227

    it is very good to hear this statement going onto the bottle box, and I will be looking out for the statement prior to commenting on the positive progress that such information is.

  • Macallan states on the bottle that it is natural color with nothing artificial added. What is odd is that Ralfy mentions caramel twice and then states that he tastes E150 when there is none.

  • Howdy Ralfy. Greetings from the Isle of Man.

    Question. Do you have many fillings in your teeth? Serious question. My head is full of amalgam and Im also getting that 'hard metallic finish' you describe. I wonder if theres a connection?

    Loving your reviews by the way. Always entertaining & highly educational.

  • @Bonzodogdick

    ... a very good point ! I do have old-style (but effective) metal tooth fillings, and yes, this may well factor into the tasting experience, especially when being aware of the finer 'finish' notes of a Whisky.

    You are the first person to ever mention this situation, ... but Island-life does give us time to think, away from big-City distractions.

  • I can only compare the 18-year-old expressions of the Sherry and Fine Oak. In traditional sherry cask version I could also detect a hard metallic, bitter taste plus tire rubber on both the palate and finish after the initial blast of dry apricot and other fruit. I found it extremely unpleasant and will not be coming back to it for a while. The Fine Oak on the other hand mellowed out the bitterness quite noticeably. I found it very satisfying as a post-Thanksgiving dinner (American) dram.

  • This whisky is ok but in this price range I'd be happier with Glenfiddich 15 or Glen Livet 15,but I have to say the MacAllan 18 is a real winner but do you really wan't to spend that kind of money to drink whisky if you work for a living?I think not ;you can find great single malt for $70.00 or less and for most $70.00 is holiday whisky.

  • I talked to Macallan's Ambassador last month at VIctora BC's Art of the cocktail festival, J Wheelock. And he said Macallan does not at any coloring. and they Chill filter at 6 degrees Celsius

  • @RE4Freak Add, not at.

  • I was a bit disappointed with this as well, but I honestly think that the 12 Sherry Oak is one of the tastiest whiskeys I have had. I use it as a treat, almost as a dessert, rather than one to ponder over.

  • I've just bought and tried The Macallan 18 year old sherry cask. Very impressed.

  • I bought the Fine Oak 10 year old on offer as a gamble. I was ready to be disappointed because of all the criticism but I really like it. There is a bit of latent wood in the finish, not too much and it adds character. It is natural colour according to the box and the light chill filtration retains lots of waxiness to give more flavour nuance. The intense power of the whisky makes it behave more like a 46% bottling. I really like it and recommend it as a more masculine expression of whisky.

  • @chrish12345

    ... thanks for that contribution , ... you have had better luck with your version than I had with mine !!

  • Comment removed

  • is the 12 year any better?

  • @cjt1982

    ... from my experience, NOT better.

  • I'm new to whiskey, but I now possess The Macallan 12, The Macallan 15, The Dalmore 12, Glenfiddich 15, and Glenfiddich 18; and I must say The Macallan 15 is by far my favorite.

  • thx for your reviews, i have the signatory 20y macalan and 18y highlandpark. didn't tatste them yet...i'm curious.

  • I had Macallan 15 for the first time a few weeks ago, and it was incredibly spirity. Did NOT enjoy it at all. However, I had the Macallan 12 a couple days ago, and I enjoyed it quite a bit more. I think I'll have to find some of this.

  • @jakob187 Interesting. I find Macallan gets better with age , but again I suppose its subjective. I have a friend who also swears by the 12 year old even against its older counterparts.

  • im new to scotch whisky, i just bought 2 bottles, the macallan 10yo and the glenmorangie 10 y.o original. i taste them and cant name the taste like you do here. does this take awhile to devolpe this? i dont know how people taste caramel sweet seaweed etc etc lol

  • it does take a while so best to be patient and just enjoy !

    The best start is to pick out only three smells and three flavours then let the rest arrive in their own good time.

  • I own a bottle of 12 y.o. Fine Oak...overprized and unspectacular.

  • .... many people would agree with you on this assessment.

  • hey is the sherry oak much better than the fine oak? because after trying the 12 fine oak I cannot see how people speak so highly of Macallan... it's very forgettable in my honest opinion

  • ... you will notice I have rated this 10yo 82/100, one of the lowest marks at 'whiskyreviews' and also that I have not featured any other Macallans since this review.

    ... there's a reason !!!

  • hmmm... on a different note, I want to explore Islay malts a little more... Do you think Ardbeg 10 is the way to go? I've only tried Bowmore Legend and that was nothing special... Laphroaig 1/4 and Lagavulin 16 also sound good but are more expensive then Ardbeg 10... Are Laph 10 or Caol Lia any good? thanks Ralfy!!

  • check out reviews 28, 29, 30, 32, 50, 76, 92,93,94, 97 & 99.

    Start with Ardbeg and Caol Ila

  • thanks man, I got the Ardbeg 10 anyway... its an awesome dram too! so sweet and citrusy... until you swallow and the peat and seaweed hit ya!

  • What Macallan would you recommend besides the 12 yr?

  • I've heard bad stuff about the 12 unfortunately, and would therefore recommend other sherry-style Malts like Glenfarclas 15 and Glendronach 15. ... Springbank 10 too !!!

    The Macallan 10 is the only one I would recommend at the moment, unless your rich and can afford old stuff !!!

  • Hey Ralfy, had a quick question for you(one that you may have never thought of before), do you know if any single malts (scotch) have or come from things that are animal products??

  • ... no animal products are in Whisky (unless you count yeast)

    ... it's just that some Whiskies taste like the Dog's bollocks, whilst others taste like cat's piss !!!

    (just kidding !)

  • Thanx man. I didn't think so either.

    ... if you want a whisky that tastes awful(not that you would) go with Inver House blended, i mean not good at all, prolly ok for mixin though...

  • thanks for the review. great vids! keep it up.

  • A bit of a low score for what I think is a great malt - what are your views on the Fine Oak range?

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