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Since 1824, The Macallan has become a name venerated by collectors and connoisseurs alike – a distillery synonymous with pedigree, patience, and the pursuit of perfection.
There are whiskies you taste, and whiskies you experience. The Macallan’s Double Cask and Sherry Oak expressions belong firmly in the latter camp – rich in character, unforgettable in finish.
The Macallan Double Cask
The Macallan Double Cask range is distinguished by its layered richness and unmistakable sweetness. A harmonious marriage of American and European sherry-seasoned oak casks, this expression is both a celebration of duality and a masterclass in balance. American oak offers up that signature sweetness – think Madagascan vanilla, honeycomb, and warm toffee – while the European oak brings structure, depth, and spice, lending nuance to every sip.
The Macallan Double Cask 30 Years Old tells the story of these two oaks – and two continents – through three decades of meticulous maturation. Its golden acorn hue is a testament to The Macallan’s commitment to natural colour – drawn solely from the wood it’s matured in.
The nose is generous, with fresh honeycomb, red apple, fig and vanilla pod. On the palate, the whisky unfurls revealing a symphony of cinnamon, ginger, dried fruits and oak, before finishing with sweet spice, soft wood and lingering toffee.
Each cask used in the Double Cask journey has its own origin story – from the vast forests of northern Spain and southern France to the deep woodlands of Ohio, Missouri and Kentucky. Once harvested, both head to Jerez, where they are crafted into barrels, seasoned with sherry for up to 18 months, and then sent to rest in Speyside – where the magic really begins.
After 30 years in slumber, The Macallan’s Whisky Mastery Team selects the perfect marriage of spirit from both cask types to create the final enticing expression.
The Macallan Sherry Oak
Where the Double Cask marries the New World with the Old, the more traditional Sherry Oak range singles in on European sherry casks, which impart intensely rich, spicy and woody notes, leading to a more classic and robust flavour profile than the softer, rounder Double Oak.
The Sherry Oak 25 Years Old sings with notes of raisin and ginger, dark fruit and rich oak – a stately dram that evolves beautifully in the glass. The Sherry Oak 30 Years Old, meanwhile, is darker, deeper, and more commanding. Expect orange, wood spice, and a textural, lingering elegance.
Both expressions come encased in solid oak presentation boxes – a nod to the trees that shape the spirit’s toasted finish – and serve as timeless tributes to the art of ageing well. They are not flashy whiskies, nor are they designed for fleeting trends. They are, in every sense, built to endure.
Whether you’re seeking a singular addition to a serious collection or an extraordinary pour to mark life’s grander milestones, these age statements are more than worth their time – and yours. Because while many whiskies chase flavour, The Macallan continues to craft it with intent, grace, and a rare kind of reverence.
The Macallan 30 Year Old Double Cask 2023 Release, £4,300; The Macallan 30 Year Old Sherry Oak 2023 Release, £3,899; The Macallan 25 Year Old Sherry Oak 2023 Release, £2,095; all from whiskyshop.com
