ABV 59.2%
A big boy, but has sufficient sweetness to balance the oak.
Dave Broom
The Macallan
Brand
1989, Exceptional Cask V
Expression
Single Malt
Type
No age statement
Age (Years)
59.2%
ABV
Speyside
Region/Country
Standard (Distillery or blended)
Bottling Type
Taster
Nose: Complex and meaty: cooked fruits, polished oak, incense, coffee grounds, medlar, wet tea leaves, dry amontillado, flamed orange peel.
Palate: Perfumed, almost oily start. Good balance. Wood gives grip but there's sweet centre with notes of heather blossom and maraschino cherry.
Finish: Lightly peaty.
Comment: A big boy, but has sufficient sweetness to balance the oak.
Score: 8.5
Taster
Nose: Mint chocolates. Fudge. Calvados. Oak.
Palate: Packed with flavour. Cocoa, Demerara sugar. Ginger.
Finish: Coffeeish dryness. Bittersweet.
Comment: Lovely pinkish mahogany colour. Big esters, together with alcohol, balance a surprising degree of woodiness. Drinks older than it is. Another fogeyish bottling.
Score: 9
Subscribe to the Whisky Magazine Newsletter to see the latest in all things whisky