I honestly wasn’t sure what to expect. On the one hand, I’m more of a Bourbon guy. I really like the smokey oak flavors of American Bourbon compared to Scotch, which always tasted like it had a little nail polish remover in its flavor profile.
Boy was I surprised at this one, and rightly so. The Double Cask line is an attempt to satisfy picky (dumb) American bourbon drinkers like myself.
“This is the first time The Macallan has used American Oak Sherry-seasoned casks as the most prominent flavor style in one of its expressions. To create Double Cask, The Macallan brings new oak from America thousands of miles to Spain, where the oak casks are crafted and Sherry-seasoned before traveling to the Macallan’s distillery on Speyside to mature for at least twelve years. These whiskies are then harmoniously united with those aged in the very best sherry seasoned European oak casks.”
So, to clarify, the double cask line is an attempt to make a scotch fit for Bourbon drinkers. And it’s amazing. But don’t take my word for it. The Macallan 12 Year Double Cask has received the coveted Double Gold Medal at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition in 2017 and a Gold Medal & 95 points rating from the International Review of Spirits Tasting in 2017.
So what’s it taste like? A little vanilla, a little oak, very smooth. Tastes like Macallan, but also somehow like American Whiskey… and I loved every sip. And at around $60, you can’t go wrong.