The Macallan 12 Year Old is a long-standing expression in the luxury distillery’s core range and was first bottled independently in the 1960s. Many years and numerous variations later, The Macallan 12 Year Old Sherry Oak continues to attract the interest of whisky drinkers and collectors.
Whether you’re a whisky drinker, collector or just curious about whisky, this ultimate guide will tell you everything you need to know about the legendary Macallan 12 Years Old. Drinkers and collectors might also be interested in this 1990s Macallan 12 Years Old, available at The Whiskey Wash Shop for just $1,328.
What is the difference between “Sherry Oak”, “Double Cask”, “Triple Cask” and “Fine Oak”?
First, we need to differentiate between the different versions of The Macallan 12 Year Old. In this article, I will focus specifically on the Sherry Oak 12 Year Olds.
The Macallan is known for its maturation in sherry casks, so the Sherry Oaks are the longest running series and the centerpiece of the 12 year old variant.
The 12-year-old Double Cask variant was launched in 2016 and is still available today, with a 15-year-old, 18-year-old and 30-year-old variant. As the name suggests, the Double Cask variants are matured in two different types of casks: European and American sherry oak.
In 2018, The Macallan launched the Triple Cask range to replace the Fine Oak range that had been running since 2004. These bottlings were matured in European and American sherry oak casks, as well as American ex-bourbon casks. The Triple Cask range has since been discontinued, leaving the Sherry Oaks and Double Casks in the brand’s core portfolio.
When was The Macallan 12 year old first produced?
The oldest official bottling of Macallan 12 year old single malt scotch (importantly not a whisky liqueur) that I can find was bottled by Marshall Taplow in the 1960s. Although the whisky is categorised as “pure unblended” on the label, this term is no longer used. Since the label states that it was bottled under licence from The Macallan, we can assume that the whisky inside is single malt scotch.
The Macallan continued to outsource its bottlings during the 1970s and early 1980s, with the majority of bottlings being carried out by Campbell, Hope & King, and Gordon and MacphailThen, in 1984, The Macallan began bottling its own whisky.
The Macallan 12 Year Old Sherry Oaks has been bottled for decades, with several packaging changes and rebranding over time. Today’s Macallan 12 Year Old Sherry Oak is bottled in the distillery’s sleek and iconic conical bottle and housed in a structured black box.
How is Macallan 12 Year Old Sherry Oak made?
For the 12 year old, The Macallan uses its famous sherry oak maturation program. The spirit is distilled in the distillery’s “strange little stills” before being aged in European oak casks that have been sherry-seasoned in Jerez de la Frontera, Spain.
How does the whisky taste?
The 12 year old is a rich and fruity expression with hints of spice from European oak. These tasting notes are from Macallan’s website:
“NOSE
Dried fruits, candied citrus peel and oak with notes of ginger and nutmeg.
“PALATE
Raisins and sultanas with ginger syrup, a hint of sweet cinnamon spice and a hint of vanilla.
“FINISH
Long with oak and warming ginger.”
How collectible is the 12 year old Macallan?
Given The Macallan’s position in the market – it is arguably the pinnacle of luxury Scotch whisky – it is not surprising that many customers now prefer to collect the 12-year-old rather than drink it.
However, it is the older bottlings from the 1970s, 80s and 90s that have become the most sought after collectors’ items. They were bottled at a time when whisky was only meant to be drunk, not collected or invested in. Many of these bottles have been opened and drunk, making them a rarity.
That is why older bottlings of the 12-year-old achieve higher prices both at auctions and in retail.
Nevertheless, there are still many Macallan fans who buy the whisky to drink. After all, the distillery would not have gotten to where it is today without its loyal fans.
So, are you a Macallan 12 drinker or a collector? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.
How much does The Macallan 12 year old cost?
The Macallan 12 Years is available internationally.
The current lowest price for The Macallan 12 Year Old Sherry Oak is 67,99 € (for the latest expression).
If you are a drinker or collector and would like to try an older Macallan 12 Year Old, browse The Whiskey Wash Shop and purchase a Macallan 12 Year Old bottled in the 1990s. Here for only $1,328. Browse the entire Macallan collection Here.
