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Dwelling
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| Hello, that is certainly one of our (nearly) each day tastings. Santé! |
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March 28, 2025
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Macallan in reminiscence of Michael Jackson, the continuation (and conclusion)
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With a collection that left us moderately unmoved when it was first launched, as on the time costly NAS bottles have been deeply stunning, and the makes an attempt to copy the previous much more so. Just like the unbelievable ‘replicas’ or… this little collection. In fact, we’ve already drunk and even tasted these, however certainly we’ve by no means truly written tasting notes. Now’s the time, earlier than these oddities vanish utterly…
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The entire collection makes fairly an impression
in your cabinets, supplied you retain it so as.
tWorld Wine Whisky) |
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Macallan ‘Travellers Version – Fifties’ (40%, OB, sherry cask, 50cl, +/-2001) 
This quirky little bottle was supposed to copy the fashion of Fifties Macallan. The problem, in fact, was that again then, the Fifties Macallans – just like the 1957 we tasted yesterday – have been nonetheless comparatively straightforward to search out and style, so direct comparability was completely potential. Let’s do it once more then… Color: amber. Nostril: properly, this has come alongside properly, actually gentle, however exhibiting charming notes of candy wine, almond croissants, floral nectar, acacia blossom, pistachio syrup… Oh sure, not unhealthy in any respect, whereas we discovered it a bit feeble again within the day. Mouth: this has aged properly, although sadly the low energy has rendered it fairly diaphanous and moderately just a little irritating. Mint and barley syrup, natural teas, walnuts, a contact of sunshine honey… The profile itself has turn into superior. End: brief, fading, however nonetheless on pretty dried fruits similar to figs. Feedback: for the file, the Fifties was my favorite of the 4 (twenties, thirties, forties, fifties) again then. In any case, this has aged very gracefully and it’s all the time a pleasure to revisit the old-school Macallan fashion.
SGP:551 – 88 factors. |
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Nicely executed, that ’50s bottling was under no circumstances misplaced after the 1957 we tried yesterday. Now, lets transfer on to the ’40s?
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Macallan ‘Travellers Version – Forties’ (40%, OB, sherry cask, 50cl, +/-2001) 
The Nineteen Forties have been stated to be smokier, notably as a result of gasoline was in excessive demand for different functions, which supposedly led to a return to peat in distilleries. Or so whisky mythology has it. Color: amber. Nostril: positively drier, a lot much less on dried fruits, extra natural, with notes of hay and minimize grass, some nuts, although we’re not likely discovering any of that ‘peat’ character you typically get in instant post-war Macallans. Nonetheless, there’s a stunning beeswax word. Mouth: I’m 100% sure there’s been some optimistic OBE. It’s actually dry and fragile, even barely cardboardy, however we’re removed from the close to catastrophe we famous again within the day. Chamomile tea, cake crumbs, and a few moderately fairly wax. End: brief, dry. Banana pores and skin, then a contact of ash. Feedback: it whispers, it’s fragile, nevertheless it’s unquestionably excellent.
SGP:341 – 86 factors. |
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Word that the very first bottles on this collection got here with twist caps (we had a set), which have been shortly changed with cork stoppers.
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Macallan ‘Travellers Version – Thirties’ (40%, OB, sherry cask, 50cl, +/-2001)
We’ve little direct expertise with Nineteen Thirties Macallans, although the 1938 ‘pink ribbon’ stays etched in our reminiscence – we consumed fairly a number of glasses again when it was nonetheless offered at costs that now appear laughable. Color: amber. Nostril: extra austere, with wax and ashes, manzanilla, amaretti, then earth and mushrooms. Actually, this one too feels vastly higher than it did 25 years in the past. Good grief, 25 years! Mouth: a real ode to bottle ageing, maybe much more pronounced in a 50cl bottle. Saline touches, parsley, marrow, walnuts, raisins, tobacco, honey… End: brief however elegant, on walnuts and dried fruits. Feedback: so a lot better than on the time of its launch, I swear!
SGP:551 – 87 factors. |
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All this factors to the necessity for a dynamic method to managing our inventory of spirits, maybe newcomers ought to actually be shopping for in the present day for the longer term, beginning by increase their working inventory with previous bottles purchased at public sale. Who is aware of, perhaps yesterday’s moderately just a little lacklustre Macallan ‘Terra’ may have turn into very good in 25 years’ time!?
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Macallan ‘Travellers Version – Twenties’ (40%, OB, sherry cask, 50cl, +/-2001)
Now this one, sorry, I’ve zero expertise with the 20s, other than the 1928 and the vatted model with the 1926 (50 yo Anniversary). However I wouldn’t know find out how to extract or describe a particular fashion, and I freely admit I’m just a little ashamed of that now… Simply kidding. Color: amber. Nostril: not very totally different from the Thirties, simply rounder and extra on dried fruits, leaning barely in the direction of the Fifties. Nonetheless, you see, it’s very charming, particularly as hints of mint and camphor begin to emerge. Mouth: this has turn into actually good, on liquorice and dried fruits. I’ll hold it temporary. It’s simply these darn low strengths that maintain it again just a little – a disgrace, they actually ought to have gone for 45/46% vol. End: brief however pretty. Marrons glacés, heather honey, raisins, and even a transparent saline contact within the aftertaste. Not so brief in any case. Feedback: it appears more and more clear to me that the entire collection has benefited vastly from 25 years in bottle. In my opinion, I gained’t swear my tastes haven’t modified since Y2K – however not that a lot, actually.
SGP:551 – 88 factors. |
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I’m sorry, I can’t fairly bear in mind who the Grasp Blender at Macallan was across the yr 2000, however in any case, hats off to them. Belatedly…
Proper then, we’ve nonetheless acquired two or three latest indie bottlings to style…
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Macallan 32 yo 1991/2023 (46.8%, William’s Alternative, DH World Wine, 1st fill PX sherry, cask #8184)
An previous Macallan for Asia, the place, by the way, all these aged Macallans appear to finish up these days. Our mates have good style, that a lot is evident… Color: darkish reddish amber. Nostril: we’re getting into one other dimension, loaded with prunes but in addition rosewood, patchouli, blackberry jam, classic wax polish, then resins and previous natural liqueurs, with a faint tarry contact. Fairly stunning. Mouth: really singular, on bitter cherry liqueur, hints of Swiss cheese, caraway, and previous pink Burgundy… The palate is frankly uncommon, with some molecular transmogrification both underway or already full. One would possibly nearly say it has some splendid flaws, should you see what I imply. End: medium in size, ‘in mutation’, with waxed cardboard and a return of the bitter cherries. Massive bitterness within the aftertaste. Feedback: let’s say that is for the Macallan lover who’s already had all of it. The palate is genuinely loco, however in fact we like that – for the reason that solely factor that really frightens us is boredom. Proper.
SGP:362 – 87 factors. |
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Macallan 31 yo 1991/2023 (54.1%, William’s Alternative, DH World Wine, sherry hogshead, cask #2593)
Color: amber. Nostril: we’re again to one thing a bit ‘loco’, even on the nostril, although this time it’s all mosses and resins, wild mushrooms, humus, ferns, pine needles – a wonderful stroll via the forest, with woodpeckers and cuckoos overhead. With water: inexperienced Chartreuse and Velay verbena, correct previous collector’s bottles should you please. Mouth (neat): stunning, earthy and resinous, with lemon and important oils, then pine sap, propolis, salty liquorice… Huge tannins, however that’s a part of its allure. With water: some tiny tarry and even petroly notes emerge. End: lengthy and deeply resinous and tannic. Feedback: frankly, it is a bit bonkers, however for lengthy walks within the woods, it’s the perfect dram on your hipflask. Personally, I like something resinous, even when it’s as unorthodox as this.
SGP:371 – 89 factors. |
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Macallan 26 yo 1993/2020 (56.4%, Douglas Laing, Xtra Outdated Explicit, The Black Collection, Unique for DH World Wine, refill sherry butt, cask #DL13661, 244 bottles)
Color: deep gold. Nostril: it opens with blasts of leeks and truffle, strikes on to Jamaican rum (certainly), lands briefly on orange-flavoured yoghurt, continues via furnishings polish and shoe cream, and finishes on a lit Cuban cigar in an ashtray. This one’s clearly ‘particular’ too. With water: charred woods and some Brussels sprout notes earlier than bitter oranges are available to revive order. Mouth (neat): barely burnt pecan pie, gunpowder, roasted artichokes and aubergines, and bitter oranges dusted with pepper and ash. With water: caramelised citrus zest, a contact of yeast, numerous peppers. End: pretty lengthy, with a number of notes of each sport birds and furred sport. Feedback: but once more, very uncommon and, let’s assume, ‘artistic’. All these early Nineties indie Macallans actually are… loco. The overwhelming majority veer just a little ‘off-piste’, however the attentive taster will drastically recognize these extremely ‘totally different’ and even moderately stimulating choices. Proper.
SGP:561 – 89 factors. |
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