AVB
Jesus of Cool, I'm bad, I'm nationwide
- Joined
- Nov 14, 2003
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The Macallan 25 yo Fine Oak, Macallan 25 yo Fine Oak. 86 proof, 70 or 75cl, Presentation Box packaging, about $500, limited distribution in the US.
A nice sample provided by sigar_zealot followed up with a purchase in my recent Macallan buy led to this review. I figure might as well aim high to start the new year off.
Unlike the standard Macallan, the Fine Oak version is triple matured in American Oak ex-bourbon casks up to 8 years old, American Oak ex-sherry casks up to 2 years old and European Oak ex-sherry casks also up to 2 years old. Until the release of the Fine Oak series all Macallan since the early 70's was stored in sherry casks only.
After a fine ham dinner with all the fixings I settled back to watch the Sugar Bowl for awhile before I poured myself a sample of the Macallan Fine Oak. The nose starts off slightly with a cleaner (think Windex) type of smell under the bits of orange, honey and dry grasses. Letting it sit for a few minutes removed 99% of the cleaner smell. With that taken care of I had the first taste. The body is full with orange and leather and sherry underneath. The intermingling of flavors is fairly complex with some tannins making themselves known. The finish is a bit short with the normal slight peat that the sherried Macallan has while continuing the orange from the nosing and tasting.
$500 is A LOT of money for a bottle of anything and at that price I expect some improvement above the less expensive versions. Even with the application of the law of diminishing returns there should be something to recommend the higher price. I can't say this holds true for the 25 year old version in the Fine Oak series. The 17 and even more so the 18 yo versions are more interesting and "alive" while only 30% of the price. I haven't had the 21 yo so I don't know if that is an improvement also.
Buy one if you really want one but don't expect the equal of the 25 yo Sherried Version.
A nice sample provided by sigar_zealot followed up with a purchase in my recent Macallan buy led to this review. I figure might as well aim high to start the new year off.
Unlike the standard Macallan, the Fine Oak version is triple matured in American Oak ex-bourbon casks up to 8 years old, American Oak ex-sherry casks up to 2 years old and European Oak ex-sherry casks also up to 2 years old. Until the release of the Fine Oak series all Macallan since the early 70's was stored in sherry casks only.
After a fine ham dinner with all the fixings I settled back to watch the Sugar Bowl for awhile before I poured myself a sample of the Macallan Fine Oak. The nose starts off slightly with a cleaner (think Windex) type of smell under the bits of orange, honey and dry grasses. Letting it sit for a few minutes removed 99% of the cleaner smell. With that taken care of I had the first taste. The body is full with orange and leather and sherry underneath. The intermingling of flavors is fairly complex with some tannins making themselves known. The finish is a bit short with the normal slight peat that the sherried Macallan has while continuing the orange from the nosing and tasting.
$500 is A LOT of money for a bottle of anything and at that price I expect some improvement above the less expensive versions. Even with the application of the law of diminishing returns there should be something to recommend the higher price. I can't say this holds true for the 25 year old version in the Fine Oak series. The 17 and even more so the 18 yo versions are more interesting and "alive" while only 30% of the price. I haven't had the 21 yo so I don't know if that is an improvement also.
Buy one if you really want one but don't expect the equal of the 25 yo Sherried Version.
