Scotch Whisky Review #502: The Macallan Rare Cask Black

Distillery: Macallan.

Region: Speyside.

Age: NAS.

ABV: 48%.

Cask Type: American and European oak sherry-seasoned casks.

Price: Courtesy of /u/l_tyrion.

Color: 1.4, Tawny.

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Nose: This is overall very earthy, very dark, really attention grabbing. Espresso is the main note here and there is loads of it. You get some fruitier notes as well in the form of something like stewed plums.

Palate: You can taste the peat here, it is light with more smoke whisps than some of the more heavily peat leaning drams, but it is certainly noticeable. The dark, earthy notes from the nose return. You get the espresso, though it is a bit tempered down, perhaps closer to a smooth cup of brewed coffee than anything stronger and more concentrated. You get some baking spices and fruit in the form of some dried jujubes and figs.

Finish: Fairly long in length. You get whisps of smoke followed by espresso and then dark chocolate to wrap it all up.

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Conclusion: Whenever anyone has asked me about how I feel about Macallan, I generally respond saying that I think they are a very frustrating distillery. They can make excellent whisky but they have to decide to wake up and do so, much like how they did in the past with the Edition lineup. Having had a Rare Cask bottling a few years ago, I thought that this Rare Cask Black would be another one of Macallan’s “style over substance” bottlings that they seem to want to crank out most of the time. I have to say, I was pleasantly surprised at how much I liked this. To me, it tastes a lot like how Glenmorangie Signet is often described as tasting with strong coffee notes throughout. The peat here is certainly light but it adds a layer of depth that really elevates this dram. Would I buy a bottle? Almost certainly not but it is certainly a reminder that Macallan can make some excellent stuff if they want to.

Rating: 93.

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Scotch Whisky Review #502, Speyside Review #178, Whisky Network Review #667

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Scoring Legend:

• 95-100: As good as it gets. Jaw-dropping, eye-widening, unforgettable whisky.
• 90-94: Sublime, a personal favorite in its category.
• 85-89: Excellent, a standout dram.
• 80-84: Quite good. Quality stuff.
• 75-79: Decent whisky worth tasting.
• 70-74: Meh. It’s definitely drinkable, but it can do better.
• 60-69: Not so good. I might not turn down a glass if I needed a drink.
• 50-59: Save it for mixing.
• 0-49: Blech.