Macallan Fine Oak 10 Year Old Scotch – Review

Macallan Fine Oak 10 Year Old ScotchThe Macallan Fine Oak 10 Year Old Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky

80 Proof

Price Point: $40 – $50 for 750 ML

Distiller: The Macallan Distillers Ltd.

 

Background

Sometimes when choosing a whiskey to try, you just have to go with your gut instinct.  You won’t always know every whiskey in the store, but that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t try those of which you have no prior knowledge.

I bought my bottle of the Macallan Fine Oak 10 Year Old a few weeks back when looking for a good Scotch for my wife’s birthday.  I wanted something other than the typical stuff, so I decided to purchase a bottle of which I knew nothing about.  The Macallan is priced reasonably and has a nice package, so I thought I’d give it a shot.

 

Review

The Macallan Fine Oak has a nose that immediately gives its flavor away.  Although light in color, you can quickly tell that this is just as robust a Scotch as any other Highland single malt.  Fruit notes are present, particularly apples and pears.

The flavors in the Macallan Fine Oak are all Scotch with none of the peat.  There are a variety of fruits in this whisky, most notably pears.

The aftertaste is a bit harsh for such a fruity Scotch.  It’s not quite as smooth as one would expect for a light colored whisky.  The lingering taste is less defined by the fruitiness and more by the Scotch flavor.

 

Rating & Recommendations

The Macallan Fine Oak 10 Year Old is a decent Scotch, but nothing out of the ordinary.  I rate this particular Scotch a 77 out of 100.

I usually urge any Scotch drinkers to prepare their drinks neat.  But, this one really needs a splash of water to make an impression.  I would even recommend throwing a couple cubes of ice in your glass in the absence of water just to bring down its harshness a bit.

To me, this Scotch served its primary purpose.  I was looking for something new to try, and I found it.  I would be curious to try the more mature expressions that the Macallan has to offer, but I’m not entirely impressed with this one.

 

-Ryan

2 comments

3 pings

  1. Hi there

    Interesting review. I feel as the old whiskey it will taste more good.

    Thanks
    Gerald

    • Rex on January 2, 2013 at 5:47 pm
    • Reply

    I feel that Ryan nailed it on his review.
    I have only been drinking scotch for a couple of years, but I love the stuff.
    I consider myself an amateur, so I rely on reviews for guidance.
    For me, $40-$50 a bottle is a bit of an investment, so I’d like to have a fighting chance of really liking what I have purchased.
    I have heard a lot about The Macallan, so I tried a bottle of the 10 year old to add to my repertoire.
    It is good, but like Ryan said, there is a harshness to it as it goes down the pipe.
    I prefer a smoother swallow like what The Glenlivet gives, but you have to be adventurous enough to try new things. I have a long list yet to go.

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