Macallan Classic Cut, 2017 Limited Edition, 58.4% abv.

The 2017 Classic Cut was offered as an affordable, sherry-based, NAS with a bottle count of approximately 90,000. Interestingly, this was supposedly offered in the US first, before other areas. Online documents generally describe Classic Cut as matured in "American and European oak casks", but "seasoned with Oloroso Sherry from Jerez, Spain"... what does that even mean? Well, in this case, dry Oloroso Sherry is put into these toasted American and European oak casks and left for 2 years before they are emptied and filled with Macallan distillate. I wonder what happens to the sherry?

Nose: mellowed honey, like some smoke mixed with honey, hard to describe macallan-esque aroma, light vanilla, some citrus notes in there, last notes have a wine grape essence.  When the nose is far, I smell cuties (those mini-oranges), light candy, lemon essence.

Palate: more intense versions of aged steamed lotus leaves, young tofu, and wood. No fruits, no vanilla, no smoke, no sweetness, no bitterness.

Finish: medium to long, spicy.

The nose was interesting, but the palate was pretty bad since I don't tend to enjoy that "wet, old steamed lotus leaves and young tofu" flavor profile combination. I've noticed some Macallans have it and some don't. I'm beginning to suspect that flavor profile emerges for certain whiskies if storage conditions are not good. It's still a mystery to me why scotches in general have it.

Grade: C-

Whiskyanalysis.com, 8.78 ± 0.19 on 8 reviews
Whiskyadvocate, Gavin Smith, 88 points
thewhiskeywash.com, Sarah Coppola, 4.5/5 stars

Image courtesy of Eric Yee.

Eric Yee

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