The Macallan Gold

The Macallan Gold, NAS, 40 %

The Macallan Gold is the entry level for the 1824 series from Macallan Distillery. I have previously reviewed the The Macallan Amber, The Macallen Sienna and The Macallan Ruby. The 1824 series has no age statements, but uses a color theme, and color names. The darker the color the better the quality and the higher the retail price - at least that is the idea. Personally I think it is rather silly to simplify like this. Darker color is certainly not automatically equivalent to better quality, but I guess it makes for good advertising. However, the important bottom line is whether or not the whisky is good.

The Macallan Gold was released in late 2012. It is made up from 9 to 15 YO 1st fill and refill sherry casks, and is sort of a replacement for the previous 10 yo Sherry Oak and 10 yo Fine Oak bottlings.

This whisky is not available to buy in Norway and Sweden, but you can pick it up online at GBP 36.

Nose (20/25): A large vase filled with flowers, a jar of honey, a bottle of sherry, a bicycle wheel repair kit, a vanilla pod, and a small oak barrel filled with lemons.

Taste (19/25): Vanilla sticks, lemon wedges, watered down sherry, freshly cut flowers, ladies' perfume, and dried herbs. Thin mouth-feel.

Finish (19/25): Sugary and flowery. Herbal with some honey and tea. Rather short on the finish.

Balance (18/25): Like one of those stick figures on the fashion catwalks. Nice from a far, but far from nice. It lacks body, it's just too skinny for me. Go for The Macallan Sienna instead, now that is a lovely dram!

Score (76/100)

Sláinte! - Thomas