Whisky Review: The Macallan Sherry Oak (12 Year)

Posted by Arctic Wolf on July 18, 2010

Photo Courtesy of J.Wheelock

The Macallan is a single malt Scotch whisky distillery, located near Easter Elchies House, at Craigellachie in the Speyside region of Scotland.

I was given a bottle of The Macallan 12 Year Old Sherry Oak and the 10 Year Old Fine Oak by J. Wheelock, the Brand Ambassador West for The Macallan, Highland Park, and The Famous Grouse. Mr. Wheelock ask me to do a comparative tasting of the two styles of oak as part of my series of reviews of The Macallan Single Malt Scotches. For those who do not know, The Macallan Sherry Oak whiskies are aged exclusively in oak barrels seasoned with sherry from Jerez, Spain. The Fine Oak Series is a relatively new series of whiskies which uses American Sherry and American Whiskey barrels in addition to the Spanish Sherry casks.

Photo Courtesy J. Wheelock)

Both bottles presented to me were 750ml bottles, each bottled at 40% alcohol by volume. I shared my review of The Macallan Fine Oak 10 Year Single Malt Whiskey earlier and you may click on the link to read it for comparison.

And here is an excerpt from my review of of The Macallan Sherry Oak 12 Year Old Single Malt Whisky:

“….When I poured the Macallan Sherry Oak into my glencairn glass the immediate nose was complex and tainted with sherry aroma. I sensed a firm woodiness in the air which had an exotic ‘fruit-like’ flair. Treacle and sherry smoke slowly drifted out of the glass with the firm imprint of wild berries and tart cherries….”

You may read the full review here: