Review #203 - Macallan 12 Year Triple Cask
The least common of the three types of 12 year Macallan bottlings, this Triple Cask was previously known as the 'Fine Oak' 12 Year Old. It takes the European oak ex-sherry casks and American oak ex-sherry casks from the Double Cask version, and then adds some American oak ex-bourbon casks to the mix.
Before we even taste this, we can see that this whisky suffers from the same presentation as the other 12 year Macallans: bottling strength is only 43% ABV, which means chill filtration is also very likely. We do get a natural color, though, which is a nice touch.
Macallan 12 Year Triple Cask
Scotland/Speyside - Single Malt
Current Locally Available Price: USD 84 (2024)
Age Statement: 12 Years
Strength: 43% ABV
Cask Makeup: European oak ex-sherry casks, American oak ex-sherry casks, ex-bourbon casks
Details: No added color
Tasting Methodology: Reviewed 3 times over 18 months; bottles at 80%, 60%, and 50% fill levels at times of review. Tasted in a Glencairn glass each time, rested 10-15 minutes
Nose: Balanced, with some sherry notes like prune and raisin, but also some lighter fruits like melon and bananas. There's a bit of mild black pepper spice and some soft oak, but the main focus is fruits - we also get oranges and sweet, jammy fruits later on. With time, hints of baked bread and eucalyptus found their ways out.
Palate: Middle of the road once again, with some sweeter notes and dry notes, but also some sherry flavors and ex-bourbon flavors. Raisins and hints of warm spice like cinnamon, some dark berries, but also a bit of vanilla and mild oak. There are just hints of that slightly dirty, sulfury Macallan spirit hidden underneath the cask influence, and the mouthfeel is medium-thin.
Finish: Medium length, leaning a bit more toward the sherry side of things now. Dark fruits of fig and blackcurrant, some orange, some cinnamon spice, and soft, buttery oak. A little simple and amorphous.
Final Note: In our market, this bottle is priced between the Sherry Oak 12 Year Old and the Double Cask 12 Year Old Macallans; to our taste buds, it's a step down from either one. Not a huge change, mind you, but noticeably more mild and slightly bland. The addition of the bourbon casks did less to add new flavors and more to dampen the sherry impact... it isn't quite what we expect from a Macallan. For us, if we're looking for a Macallan 12, we're going with one of the other two styles.
Our Average Rating: 6.2 / 10
In the current whisky landscape of increasing prices and variable quality, we've added a value rating to our reviews that relates to the score and the available pricing of each whisky. This roughly equates to a 0-10 scale; no reviews so far have exceeded a score of 10, although it is technically possible for the formula to produce a value rating higher than 10 with a high enough score and low enough price.
Value Rating: 5.69
Check out our other Macallan reviews:
Review #192 - Macallan 12 Year Double Cask
