Whisky Review: The Macallan Whisky Maker’s Edition from of single malts — a Scotch expression worthy of considered evaluation.
Nose
Alcohol up front. Subtle at first, but opens dramatically after a few minutes. Lime seltzer, baked apple, cinnamon, raspberry jam, almost no oak presence at all. Loads of dark fruit make up the body the nose.
Palate
Thin and delicate mouthfeel. Subtle sweetness initially reminiscent of maple candies followed quickly by floral and spice notes. Stewed apples in the skin baked with cinnamon sticks, holiday fruitcake, almost overwhelming nutmeg and clove late. Continued floral and spice notes late in the palate through the early finish. A late flash of a burn followed by a flood of sweet cream. Lacking in significant depth.
Finish
The Macallan offers a lineup that is robust in comparison to any virtually any other producer of single malts. Producing spirit in large numbers offers them the opportunity to showcase variations across their own spectrum in a unique way. Overall, this dram was unbalanced and a little disappointing in my personal experience. Like many Macallans, it benefits from being given time to breathe and open up. With the Whisky Maker’s Edition, I can’t help but feel that there is a reason the bottle does better with a somewhat captive audience in travel retail.
Verdict
Whisky Review: The Macallan Whisky Maker’s Edition delivers a thoroughly accomplished whiskey that justifies its $400 price point. It is well-crafted, balanced, and worthy of a place in any considered collection.
