Description
About The Macallan 12 Year Old Double Cask Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Matured in both American and European oak casks that were previously used to age sherry, The Macallan 12 Year Old Double Cask pairs the indulgent fruit, caramel and oak spice character of European oak with the bright citrus and vanilla notes of American oak casks. A perfectly balanced and satisfyingly rich flavor experience, it greets with rich and festive aromas of fruitcake and oak spice on the nose while the palate brings caramel, nuts, and vanilla, leading to a citrusy finish.
What It Is / How It’s Made
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Distillery / Region: The Macallan, Speyside, Scotland.
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Age Statement: 12 years — meaning all the whisky in this expression has been matured for at least 12 years.
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Maturation (“Double Cask”): A key feature here is that it’s matured in sherry‑seasoned oak casks, both American oak and European oak. Meaning the oak is seasoned with sherry wine before use. No bourbon‑cask ageing in this version.
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ABV: 43%.
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Colour & Filtration: Naturally coloured. (No added coloring.)
Flavor / Tasting Profile
Here are what many tastings & reviews report — what you’ll likely notice in the nose, palate, and finish:
| Element | Typical Notes & Impressions |
|---|---|
| Nose (Aroma) | Sweet & rich: dried fruits (raisins, sultanas, prunes), vanilla and butterscotch, orange or citrus peel, gentle oak spice. Sometimes fudge, caramel, honey also show up. |
| Palate (Taste) | Creamy texture, sweet sherry fruit, toffee or creamy caramel, spice from the oak (nutmeg, ginger, mild pepper). Some citrus brightness (orange zest etc) helping lift the richness. Possibly a little oak dryness. |
| Finish | Medium to long. A mix of sweet oak, vanilla, warm spice, dried fruit lingering. Also some “woodiness” or oak tannins toward the end. |
Strengths / What Makes It Good
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Good balance of richness and finesse: The double‑sherry oak (American + European) gives both sweetness and depth, not just one dimension.
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Speyside character + sherry sweetness: If you like those dried fruit, dessert‑type whisky flavours, this is a good entry into that style without going extremely old or over‑heavy.
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Age & consistency: 12 years gives decent maturity; not overly young, so you get fairly developed wood interaction and flavour.
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Presentation & reputation: The Macallan brand has prestige; many people like the consistency and perceived quality.
Weaknesses / Trade‑offs / What Some Critics Note
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ABV 43%: For some whisky lovers, this isn’t very strong, so some “bite” or intensity may be missing, especially after dilution or in warmer climates.
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Potential for “oak dryness”: The oak influence (especially from European oak) can bring tannins, dryness, sometimes bitterness for some palates. If you dislike that, it may be less enjoyable.
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Sweetness + richness may be too much for light tastes: If you prefer lighter, grassy, or delicate whiskies (low sherry, low oak), this may feel heavy or over‑sweet.
Who It’s Good For
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Good if you enjoy sherried single malts: dried fruits, sweetness, oak, vanilla.
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If you like Speyside style whisky that has richness, but not extreme age or extreme smoke.
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If you’re using it for sipping neat, or with just a splash of water. It may also do okay with ice, but many purists prefer it neat to appreciate the complexity.
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Maybe less ideal if you prefer very bold or smoky profiles (like Islay, peated scotches) or something very mild and subtle (Lowland Scotch, unpeated light whiskies).
Reviews
There are no reviews yet.