Whiskey Macallan - King of Scotch Whiskey

2024 Author: Isabella Gilson | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 03:14

Fans of fire distillates have probably heard of Macallan whiskey, and maybe even tasted it. This drink makes you fall in love with yourself from the first sip. Its balanced subtle taste with a smoky flavor is unforgettable. No wonder the drink is called the king of Scotch whiskey. And what about the long trail of melted honey, cinnamon and espresso! But the consumer (especially in our country) is perplexed: there are bottles at a fabulously high price, but you can find seemingly the same ones, but at quite acceptable prices. Why such a disparity in prices? Where does Macallan come from, how is it made and what brands are on the market? How is this distillate drunk and what is it mixed with? We will try to answer all these questions in the article.

History of Macallan drink

Ireland and Scotland argue over the right to be called the birthplace of whiskey. The ashes of bygone centuries hide the truth from us. But "Macallan", no doubt, was born under the harsh sky of Scotland and "nourished" by water from mountain glaciers. The distillery itself appeared in the 18th century, but received a patent only in 1824. The house has changed many owners. Distinctive feature of whiskeyMacallan was given at the end of the 19th century by another owner, Roderick Kemp. The fact that … bequeathed the production to his daughters. Once in sensitive female hands, the drink became delicate and tender. The Kemp sisters have acquired the smallest stills in Scotland for distillation. In addition, in the process they are used not two, as usual, but three. But, so to speak, in the old fashioned way, Mrs. Kemp stuck to the single m alt type of production. Before bottling, the drink was aged in white Spanish oak barrels, where Oloroso sherry was previously stored.

Whiskey Macallan today

Kemp's daughters formed the Macallan Trust. But time does not stand still. And in 1965 the trust was transformed into a joint stock company, Kemp Macallan-Glenlivet Ltd. It is this inscription that can be read on old bottles. Now the name of the manufacturer has changed - The Edrington Group. The plant produces six million liters per year. Why, with such a significant volume of production, is Macallan considered one of the most expensive drinks? Three and a half or four thousand rubles - this is the lowest cost of a bottle of twelve-year-old Macallan whiskey. The price for more aged drinks is even higher: Estate Reserve - from 12,500 rubles, and Oscuro and all 32,000 at all. And in 2007, at Christie's, a bottle of Macallan Fine & Rare, 1926, went for 36,000 pounds. So the whiskey price record was broken. At the same time, unscrupulous sellers will woo you with a fake Macallan, assuring that the bottle was bought in storesduty free. Don't believe. And don't put your he alth at risk.

Why pay that kind of money?

Macallan single m alt whiskey is made from a very capricious and low-yielding variety of barley Golden Promise (Golden Promise), which grows only in the Speyside Valley (Scotland). We will not bore you here with a description of the entire long process of production of this whiskey, lasting at least twelve years. We only note that neither dyes nor caramel are added to it. M alt is dried - sprouted grain - over ovens that use Scottish peat as fuel. It gives the drink a light smoky flavor. Sherry casks are ten times more expensive than the oak containers in which bourbon was kept. But the most important step in the production of "Macallan" is the "marriage" - the blending of spirits. If the master makes a mistake in proportions, the “marriage” will be unsuccessful, as a result, all the long work will go down the drain. Small copper stills give the drink oiliness, strength and pleasant fruit tones. And the water, which is diluted with alcohols to the desired consistency, is taken from underground sources. This gives an amazing drink an unusual softness.

Company products: Macallan whiskey 12 years

The Macallan line offers distillates for every taste. And since the seventies of the last century, their products have become very popular. The fashion for single m alt whiskey has affected. Previously, single-sorted spirits were made only for the production of blended whiskey. Butsince the sixties, the company's management has taken a risk and began to bottle their products for sale directly to consumers. The success was overwhelming. Macallan 12 is the most affordable whiskey at the moment. This is a relatively lightweight version of a classic home product. It is soft and balances herbal and spicy notes. On the palate, you can hear hints of fruit and mossy wood. The color of the drink is deep, honey-amber, with an admixture of a shade of cherry wood. The aroma of sherry is noticeable, but the smell of vanilla is mixed in with it. The aftertaste is long, with a hint of peat.

Macallan Select Oak 12

This tape can be purchased in stores for 3600 rubles. The drink has a delicate aroma, which gives it notes of prunes, cherries and creamy toffee. Well balanced taste with hints of sweet spices will take you to the pre-Christmas time. Soft warm vanilla, roasted nuts and fruity notes will create an atmosphere of comfort and home. The aftertaste is long. The color of the drink is golden. This brand appeared only at the beginning of our century, but has already gained unprecedented popularity. Scotch Macallan 12 Select Oak is aged in special oak barrels (as the name implies) from sherry and bourbon. Wood also plays a role. This is American, European and Spanish oak. The result is a superb drink that once you taste it, you'll love it for the rest of your life.

Macallan Fine Oak

There is a very interestingwhiskey collection series - Macallan Fine Oak. The first copy of this product was presented to the connoisseurs ten years ago, in 2004. And since then, bottles with this exquisite drink have been valued almost worth their weight in gold. Monom alt whiskey goes through a long - at least twelve years - maturation in three different barrels. European oak wood gives the drink notes of warm spices, dried fruits and chocolate. The scent of bourbon, which was once contained in the container, gives the whiskey a floral aroma and the sweetness of vanilla. American oak sherry casks add notes of toffee, coconut and lemon. Whiskey has a rich straw color, has a fruity vanilla aroma. Its taste is perfectly balanced, with a long trail, in which shades of spices and oak are guessed. It can be said that the spirit of Scotland is contained in the bottle with this scotch.

Eighteen year old Macallan

This is also a single m alt. But if the twelve-year-old "Macallan" can be called a sweet teenager with a balanced character, then his matured brother is much more difficult. This is a charming macho, for which, like the legendary Preisley, thousands of fans around the world dry up. In 2004, Macallan - whiskey 18 years old, was recognized by the authoritative edition of Whiskey Magazine as the best in the world among such drinks. The grain for it is grown exclusively in Speyside, the drink matures in sherry casks made of Spanish white oak. Whiskey has a warm amber color with reddish sparks, has a caramel sweet aroma. The taste of the drink is "viscous", creamy, with a border ofheather honey. It also hears a chord of citrus, grapes, haze. The lingering aftertaste will delight you with hints of espresso and dark chocolate.

Macallan 1824

There is a very expensive - but justifiably - Macallan 1824 Collection whiskey. In its production, the manufacturer departed from his rule - to use only one type of grain. In fact, three varieties of barley are grown in the fields of the Macallan lands - just for this collection. Of it, it is especially worth noting "Estate Reserve". This whiskey has a milder taste and aroma than other examples of the Macallan line. It can also be called a ladies' drink. But Oscuro is the strongest of the entire collection. It is created by "marrying" different spirits obtained between 1987 and 1997. The fortress of this whiskey is 46 and a half percent. The entire collection features warm aromas of homemade cakes, vanilla, ripe fruit, cinnamon, ginger and honey. Notes of citrus refresh this cozy idyll with explosive youthful sparks.

Gourmet pairings

Connoisseurs say that the unique taste of Macallan whiskey sounds best solo. You should not humiliate it by mixing it with Coca-Cola and similar fizz. Not for this, he was aged in sherry casks for more than twelve years. Drinking this whiskey is recommended slightly chilled. This drink is suitable for a friendly male company in a leather-lined office. Whiskey will smooth out the tension during a business conversation. As for romantic dates, you can tryprepare cocktails for the girl with the participation of Macallan. This will dilute the strength of the whiskey, but retain its excellent taste. Here is the simplest recipe - "New Yorker". Mix forty milliliters of whiskey, half the amount of lemon juice and two bar spoons of Grenadine (pomegranate syrup) in a shaker. Pour into cocktail glasses.