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The Macallan Triple Cask Matured 12 Years Old is the Speyside distillery’s flagship expression for many connoisseurs. Its freshness and fruitiness are refreshing, but a honeyed core barely kissed by smoke and spices adds balance. European Sherry seasoned oak casks, American Sherry seasoned oak casks and American ex-bourbon oak casks are quite a combo, each adding complexity to this lively malt.
The nose is pure fruit: lemons, melon and even hints of white peach are supported by oaky vanilla’s warmth. You almost get a lemon curd feel on the nose, and that’s just delightful.
On the medium-body range, the 12-year-old malt is lively with fruit flavors of apples and lemon, but there are very forwarding malt, cereal, honey and vanilla aromas, too. It’s easy to see why this is such a popular expression; it’s perfectly balanced between a young and an aged malt.
Expect the fruit flavors to vanish, leaving a delicious malty and vanilla aftertaste that’s quite long for a 12-year-old expression. Then you get to experience the smoky notes that were there from the start. The Triple Cask closes beautifully.
You want to sip this one often, especially if you enjoy expressions on the younger side. A summery malt that’s just easy to drink, but with enough complexity to keep you interested. For the 12-Year-Old category, this might be the best value in Scotland.
The Macallan Sherry Oak 12 Years Old and the Triple Cask are on the same level of complexity. The Sherry Cask aged is a bit spicier, though, and lacks the abundant fresh fruit. Two sides of the same coin, these two, side by side, reflect what The Macallan is all about. Manipulating malts with a precise selection of casks.
