The Macallan broadens its signature Double Cask whisky line with two new additions

When the Double Cask line arrived some four years ago, it began an expansion of how people saw The Macallan.

The Speyside distillery, long popular for its classic sherry cask range, now brought other oak profiles to the table, toying with blending, wood contract and maturation to broaden people’s vocabulary of what The Macallan had to offer.

The Double Cask single malt, which uses American oak and European sherry-seasoned oak to mature the final product, was always aged to 12 years old. A signature in its own right, the Double Cask 12 Years Old (S$142) writes a formula of balance with different, albeit familiar flavours found in The Macallan’s whiskies. Now, the family has grown. One becomes three as the 15 and 18 Year Old Double Cask whiskies join the party.

These two new gems also let oak influence tell liquid stories. In a beautiful shade of golden butterscotch, The Macallan Double Cask 15 Years Old (S$192) begins with aromas of dried fruits, toffee and vanilla with an unmistakable whiff of smooth oak, alongside sweet notes of honey and chocolate. Sweet raisin and sultana builds with hints of vanilla, wood spice and citrus on the palate, before culminating into a soothing finish of warm ginger, caramel and citrus with a creamy mouth feel.

The Macallan Double Cask 18 Years Old (S$459) is just as complex. A sip reveals rich raisin and sultana with notes of caramel, vanilla and ginger, all balanced by wood spice and zesty citrus, before the experiences ends with warm oak spice and sweet orange.

Kirsteen Campbell, Master Whisky Maker, The Macallan, said: “Oak influence is the single greatest contributor to the quality, natural colour and distinctive aromas and flavours at the heart of The Macallan’s single malts.”

“Bringing together American and European oak sherry seasoned casks to achieve the perfect balance of flavours is incredibly exciting for the Whisky Mastery Team, and we are proud to offer two new expressions to this distinctive range for The Macallan Double Cask fans to explore,” she added.

The Macallan Double Cask range will be available in The Macallan Online Shop, The Macallan Space at 1855, selected premium bars and retailers from 20th August 2020.