That's a lot of storytelling and mystery Macallan meat. Edrington's cash cow has clearly elected to double down on NAS releases while the rest of the market has backed off from producing the same. They do it because they can. The market exists so it is filled, almost monthly.
Long time readers know I am not part of the Macallan demographic, BUT I was pleasantly surprised by the quality of last week's age-stated independently bottled Macallans. I ended that post with some parting shots, and now it's time for me to fulfill my promise.
Part of the Harmony Collection, Rich Cacao is fashioned from sherry-seasoned European and American oak. It's supposed to taste like good chocolate, and pair well with good chocolates. That link will take you to the official site that offers additional storytelling about Spain, as well as details about the whisky's box that's made with used cacao husks.
The Edition series did actually catch my eye back in the day. Costco used to carry the first two editions for prices below their SRPs, while the whisky flexed well above 40%abv. The boxes are pretty too, if you have the whole collection. Edition No. 2 was partially created by Spanish chefs (just like the Rich Cacao), and is made up of sherry puncheons, butts and refill hogsheads. Thank you, TWE, for sharing the cask detail since Edrington's marketing evades useful information about this product.
And then there's Classic Cut 2023 Edition. Part of an annual range, this edition of The Cut was of interest to me not just because it has a solid ABV, but because its producers admit that the mix includes ex-bourbon casks. Zoiks! What has become of Macallan?!
Here they are:
THREE MORE MACALLAN MATES
| Macallan Rich Cacao 44.0%abv | Macallan Edition No. 2 48.2%abv | Macallan Classic Cut 2023 Edition 50.3%abv |
|---|---|---|
| Toasted oak, hazelnuts, and Brazil nuts hit the nose right up front, while Chambord, Luxardo syrup, and turpentine stay behind. | The nose starts off slightly paint-y and floral. Semi-sweet chocolate, actual Oloroso, and brine arrive next, followed by cantaloupe and cologne. | The rawest nose of the three, and the fruitiest, with lots of apple skins and port-like berry notes. An even mix of vanilla and barley fill out the edges. |
| This palate starts off quite similar to the nose, with lots of toasted oak spice, dried blueberries, and something PX-ish. Sweet little oranges tingle in the background. | Toffee, semi-sweet chocolate, and sea salt start the palate. The Oloroso note appears here too, getting drier with time. Hints of marzipan and tart oranges provide additional character. | This very malty, toasty palate reminds me of digestive biscuits (always reliable), with Brazil nuts, tangy limes, and sweet oranges in the back. |
| It finishes floral and PXy with subtle notes of dried blueberries and sea salt. | The finish is all toffee, toasted almonds, and dried cranberries. | All the maltiness stays through the finish, with a balance of tart and sweet running through the middle. |
| Comments: This one is a struggle at times. I don't mind the missing chocolate, in fact the whisky's lack of chocolate may make it a better pairing with some nice slabs of the darkest stuff. Instead there's a lot of fortified wine in this mix, resulting in a sweet unbalanced thing. But the salt and oranges do help a bit. | Comments: THIS is the chocolatey one. The spot-on bottling strength helps deliver a bigger whisky than the standard range can offer. It is, of course, all-cask, making it one of countless contemporary whiskies that could have come from nearly any Scottish distillery. | Comments: Though this is probably the youngest of the three, I like it the best. The casks show lots of restraint, something one doesn't often find in this distillery's official releases. Then again, I like the old Fine Oak series more than most folks, so your mileage may vary here. |
| Rating: 81 | Rating: 84 | Rating: 85 |
WORDS WORDS WORDS
Another positively surprising round. I expected to dish out some 70s ratings for C-grade material, but none of the whiskies dipped to that level. Even the Rich Cacao had some good angles. There was a moment when I considered buying the 2024 Classic Cut if I could find a good deal, but then I remembered I was on my third drink, the point when retail therapy replaces rational thought for the night. But I still do not understand Macallan's pricing, as none of these Macs offer anything that cheaper age-stated whiskies could not replicate or better, especially those from a certain independent bottler.
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