The Macallan Sherry Oak 18 Years - 1996

The Macallan Sherry Oak 18 Years

The Macallan Sherry Oak 18 Years - 1996 70cl 43%vol. is the 2014 annual launch of this classic distillery, a reference for the
Speyside single malts aged in sherry barrels. Distilled in 1996 and previous years, it is matured in Jerez de la Frontera barrels that have given it a deep mahogany hue and dry fruit notes complemented by hints of ginger and cinnamon...

The Macallan distillery

The Macallan distillery is located in the Speyside region of Scotland, in Craigellachie, Moray. Founded in 1824 by Alexander Reid, a local farmer who acquired a whisky licence and decided to move to Easter Elchies House, a 1700s building made of stone for Captain John Grant, an exceptional example of the classic Highland manor. The house is surrounded by 160 hectares of green fields and lush forests that are used for barley cultivation to make The Macallan, pasture for sheep and cattle, forests and pastures mowed to attract species of birds, the land is cared for and cultivated in harmony and respect for the environment. The Spey River, one of the distillery's water sources, borders the estate to the south and south-east, the Spey River which gives its name to the Speyside whisky-producing region, is famous for the whisky industry that accompanies it during its course and salmon fishing.

During the 19th century the owners of The Macallan were people from the region, with a special link to the inhabitants and nature of the place. Almost seventy years later, Roderick Kemp purchased the distillery, and during Roderick's leadership period, The Macallan's reputation for quality was established. Thanks to his efforts, the distillery experienced a growth in demand and from 1951 - 1963 the distillery underwent numerous changes, improvements and expansions of facilities.

In 2002 and subsequent years the distillery won numerous awards, acclaimed by critics and connoisseurs, the Fine & Rare collection garnered great recognition, which continued to expand in 2004 with the Fine Oak collection.

The Macallan distillery has always shown exceptional product quality for decades. The waters for the whiskies are extracted from springs on the estate itself, near where the Spey River and Ringorm Burn converge. The distillery's stills are the smallest in Speyside and until 2004 the distillery had only used European oak barrels that had contained sherry acquired in Jerez de la Frontera, Cádiz. From that year on, The Macallan introduced ex-bourbon American oak barrels in addition to Spanish sherry with the Fine Oak series.

Finally, a fact that becomes important with the NAS The 1824 Series (No Age Statement) is that The Macallan ensures that the color of your whiskey is natural and does not change or alter in any aspect, the colors are provided by the barrels naturally.

Tasting notes and interesting data from The Macallan Sherry Oak 18

Country: Scotland.

Region: Speyside.

Style: Single Malt.

Breeding: Distilled in 1996 and previous years, it is matured in Jerez de la Frontera barrels for a minimum of 18 years.

Nose: Intense, with ginger, vanilla and cinnamon on a background of red fruit in sherry.

Mouth: Strong, oak, raisins, sherry, oranges, cloves and caramel.

Final: The end is long with raisins and a reminder of oak.

La Llar del Vi recommendation:

The Macallan Sherry Oak 18 Years - 1996, the Rolls Royce of Scotch whiskies, has reached a point of popularity in which their whiskies have been oversold, causing more and more The Macallan whiskies to be seen without declared age and increasingly difficult to find whiskies like this Sherry Oak 18 years, forceful, powerful, a timeless classic.