Macallan scotch

[Stone Dude]

I was given a bottle of 12 yr old Macallan by my dad a little while back for my brithday, and I just finished it. By far the best I have had so far, but I havent had much. I drink this straight up.

I tried Glenlevit (I'm assuming 12yr) at a pool hall in Newport Beach a few weeks back and loved it. It was on the rocks, and I enjoyed it very much.

the rest of what Ive had was cheap trash, except the Johnny Walker. JW Black is what I have been keeping in my house for a couple years now, with no need to change, as I drink it mixed most of the time.

Lately I have had the urge to drink Scotch on the rocks or neat, and the JW Black just isnt cutting it, it seems a bit harsh.

is the Macallan considered to be a great Scotch? it was nothing like I have ever had, i dont even know how much it costs. Very good, but almost a caramel taste? maybe a tiny bit much for me, but would drink it anytime.


suggestions for a single malt along these lines? for drinking straight up or even on the rocks, I'd definitely like to stay under $100 as it will last a good amount of time. Not than I have money to toss around, but I'd like to get something nice, a quality sipper.

suggestions?

 

[Tacheless]

nice review on macallan 10 year old from a scotsman plus plenty of other reviews which might help you choice your next Scotch !!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2pg4RlfaTAY&feature=channel_page

 

[boboakalfb]

Try Aberlour's offerings, their A'bunadh is a Sherry Bomb. Since you enjoyed the Mac 12, don't forget the Cask Strength as well. Some others would be the Balvenie Doublewood, Glenmorangie Lasanta, Quinta Ruban or Nector D'Or and Glenfarclas.

 

[airplanedoc]

better stick with the mcallan 12 year if you want to stay under $100, The 18 year is the best I ever had, but about double the price of 12 year, but it is worth it.

 

[**Bingo_Bob**]

better stick with the mcallan 12 year if you want to stay under $100, the 18 year is the best i ever had, but about double the price of 12 year, but it is worth it.

+1

 

[The Knize]

Your Dad has good taste. I would say that 12 yo Macallan is very well thought of, even though it is widely available and has fairly large production. I would guess that 12 yo Macallan goes for maybe $40-50 bucks in So Cali. Costco sells liquor in Cali and had a house brand of its own that was Macallan 18 and 19 yo for about $60 that was a truly amazing deal.

Macallan is a Speyside. You could look around at some of the internet Scotch ratings and discussions and see what other Speysides there are that seem to have tasting notes that seem like what you like in the Macallan. And Macallan comes in a number of different "expressions" and ages at various prices. Very hard for me to say that you should buy a different label than Macallan though, given that you like it. Glenlivet is a Speyside, too, but I do not consider the 12 year old in the same ball park as the Macallan. The 18 year old Glenlivet is a different story though. It is going to cost more, but I would say it is as good as the Macallan 18 year old and is "great" whisky.

Your view and my view of Johnny Walker Black are pretty much the same for what it is worth. I like it for a blend, and it is well-priced and reliable, but it is not going to be in the class on these single malts.

Have fun!

 

[Stone Dude]

1. what is cask strength?

2. what is a speyside?


I know the difference between single malt, blended, grain etc. , but my education stops there.

 

[The Knize]

1. what is cask strength?

2. what is a speyside?


I know the difference between single malt, blended, grain etc. , but my education stops there.

Speyside is a geographic area of Scotland. One of six or so important for purposes of Scotch making. I would test my memory and try to name each, but I know that there is always a particular one I leave off! Google Speyside for exact location. Scotch styles tend to follow the geographic areas in which they are made. Probably easier for you to read up on line than for me to tell you what Speysides taste like. Sort of in the middle, I would say.

Scotch is storage in wooden casks at a higher alcohol content or proof than it is typically bottled at. It is diluted with water generally in order to bottle it. Cask strength is simply exactly as it comes out of the barrel. Higher alcohol, higher flavor concentrations, hot, and heavy.

 

[boboakalfb]

1. what is cask strength?

2. what is a speyside?


I know the difference between single malt, blended, grain etc. , but my education stops there.

Speyside is a particular region in Scotland. Regions usually express similiar characteristics.

Cask Strength means it is straight from the barrell and isn't brought down to a lower proof or abv. I believe Mac CS is approx 58% or 116 pr while the 12 is 43% or 86 pr. You can choose to drink it neat or bring it down to a lower proof to your liking.

cstrother beat me to it...

 

[Subcutaneous]

1+ for Macellan 12 or 18 year, everytime o go through singapore I pick a bottle up 18 year = 100AUD not too bad. But you wont get much better for the price i have found most in the same price range is not up to the same standard.

 

[The Knize]

Speyside is a particular region in Scotland. Regions usually express similiar characteristics.

Cask Strength means it is straight from the barrell and isn't brought down to a lower proof or abv. I believe Mac CS is approx 58% or 116 pr while the 12 is 43% or 86 pr. You can choose to drink it neat or bring it down to a lower proof to your liking.

cstrother beat me to it...

You had better detail on CS!

CS neat is not for me. I already know I have lost some tasting ability over the years. 116 proof Scotch might not help on that account!

 

[Erebos]

Macallan 12 was the first single malt I ever had. I don't know too many other scotches that have that caramel sweetness, but if you liked the smoothness of Macallan you would probably enjoy most Speyside or Highland malts. You've already tried Glenlivet, and I would also recommend Glenfiddich and Glenmorangie. They're different from Macallan, but I think you'll enjoy them just the same.

 

[BigRich]

If you can find it, give the Cragganmore Distiller's Edition a try. I find it similar in nature to Macallan 12 but different all at the same time. Also Glenmorangie Original and Highland Park 12 Year would be good without breaking the bank.

 

[Mr Peat]

You should try bottles like Caol Ila. Plenty of good Scotches under $100 price tag. Out of all the 12 year olds, I prefer the Glenfiddich.

You have the Speyside area which is the area around Edinburgh. You have the Highlands, Lowlands, Islay and Islands as its referenced. I've enjoyed Single Malts from all the Regions and by far, the ones I enjoy the most is the Islay and Speyside.

You can find plenty of information about the different regions and how they compare in brands. So you should be able to find one that you enjoy with little to no difficulty at all. But then again, I've flown to Scotland twice so I could enjoy Single Malts I can not get in the USA. Plenty of UK only bottles to be had. So you should look at two places I know of when it comes to Scotch.

http://www.royalmilewhiskies.com/

http://www.whisky-heritage.co.uk/

I've been to both places in Edinburgh and they are a freaking blast. The Heritage Museum has a huge selection you can try at the bar they have down stairs. So you know if you want to buy a bottle of Glen Livet 21yo or this Ardbeg...
http://www.scotchwhiskyshop.co.uk/shop/rare/716-ardbeg_ardbeg_double_barrel

Also the Signatory Bottles is a wonderful Scotch to have in your rotation.

 

[The Knize]

<Speyside area which is the area around Edinburgh>

Not really. Speyside is much further North than Edinburgh, if I recall correctly. The most distrilleries in Scotland are in that region which is kind of amazing as I think it is rather remote. You cited every whisky region but the one I always forget though. Who can name it?

Also Islands is apparently not an official whisky region, which makes no sense to me. What is one supposed to officially call the areas Island whiskies are from?

Also Highlands probably should be divided into North, South, Central (Midlands), etc., but I do not think it is in any official way.

 

[Erebos]

<Speyside area which is the area around Edinburgh>

Not really. Speyside is much further North than Edinburgh, if I recall correctly. The most distrilleries in Scotland are in that region which is kind of amazing as I think it is rather remote. You cited every whisky region but the one I always forget though. Who can name it?

Also Islands is apparently not an official whisky region, which makes no sense to me. What is one supposed to officially call the areas Island whiskies are from?

Also Highlands probably should be divided into North, South, Central (Midlands), etc., but I do not think it is in any official way.

The islands are officially part of the Highlands. The other region is Campbeltown, though I can understand forgetting it as there are very few distilleries in the region.

 

[Stone Dude]

great information guys, thank you very much.

I have a lot of drinking to do, I'm already halfway through the bottle of JW I bought earlier today.

I think I will buy a bottle of Glenlevit and try one of the others recommended here. Then slowly (hopefully) I will make my way through the rest of the recommendations.

this website is awesome.

 

[Stone Dude]

I have been a bit short on cash recently, so i decided to wait untill I had some spending money to look for some more scotch.

I was getting a few grocery items at Costco the other day and found a bottle of Glenlivet 12 for $23. I couldnt pass it up.

its different than I remember form that night at the pool hall, but i had a few in me before i tried it too. I think it is pretty good, but nowhere near the Macallan 12. the Glen. turned out to be a very good purchase.

I also came across some sample sizes at Jensen's I started a seperate thread on it.

I tried the Glenfiddich 12 which is tasty, but not quite as good as the Glenlivet IMO. Although I will eventually purchase a bottle.

I also picked up a sample bottle, a good size at that, of the Macallan 18 for $10

Slowly but surely, i will make my way through all the suggestions you have made, thanks again.

I want to get a half a dozen or so bottles so I can practice tasting and discerning the difference between them

I know they taste different and some are better than others, but I want to learn to determine specific differences. what should I pay attention to for this, or does it just take years of experience to appreciate the differences?


also what else in the neighborhood of scotch that is good for sipping?

I am not a tequila fan, but I dont think I have ever had good tequila. I have never had bourbon, and the only whisky whisky I have had was JD, but the cheap stuff.

I want to learn to appreciate different drinks. Any siggestions would be greatly appreciated.

 

[Parataxis]

<Speyside area which is the area around Edinburgh>

Not really. Speyside is much further North than Edinburgh, if I recall correctly. The most distrilleries in Scotland are in that region which is kind of amazing as I think it is rather remote. You cited every whisky region but the one I always forget though. Who can name it?

Also Islands is apparently not an official whisky region, which makes no sense to me. What is one supposed to officially call the areas Island whiskies are from?

Also Highlands probably should be divided into North, South, Central (Midlands), etc., but I do not think it is in any official way.

Campbelltown.

Unlike the French wine regions, the Scotch regions are very much unofficial, and different people will define them differently. Some people put the Islands inside the Highlands, some leave it on its own, some would put it with the Islays (with Islay being a major subcatagory of the combo).

Personally, I'd divide the Highlands West and East, but there's lots of ways of divying them up.

And you're right about Edinburgh - it's right in the Lowlands. You can walk to Glenkinchie from Edinburgh.

 

[GreatDane]

I'm in love with The Glenfiddich 21 year... The Sam's near me decided to start carrying it, and some clerk put the wrong price into the computer when they were making up the tags... Under Florida law, they have to honor the price on the shelf, and I got myself 12 bottles of 21 y/o Scotch for...









$144. Eat it, suckas.

OP, good luck on your whisk(e)y journey. Don't forget to give the Irish and the Kentuckians a chance too!