The Macallan 12 Year Old Double Cask

Fruity (but not as much as Glenfiddich 12) not much smoke. Easy drink.

20th January 2019

Superb whisky. Full of apricots, butterscotch and even a bit of rhubarb on the finish. I paid £39 for my bottle , and I consider it a huge bargain.

13th December 2018

Very, very smooth. Lots of caramel and butterscotch on the tongue. My favorite scotch I've tried so far.
I actually prefer it to the 15 year old triple cask.
A bit dear at 100.00CAD/750ml.
It's the perfect dram for introducing the uninitiated into single malts.

23rd November 2018

I'm really don't know fussy about this Whisky, but for the price I bought in Australia $88 for 2 bottles nothing else's can beat it.

26th June 2018

Every time I open this to pour a dram, I get a quick sherry nose, but it disappears at first sip.
Where is the sherry cask? Yes, it is smooth and elegant, some vanilla, but no sultana finish. Don't get me wrong, not every 12 yr old needs to be as raisin-y as the Tomatin 12, or Arran 14, but this does not deliver what it promises. Seems more like an American or French Oak that takes up the nose. Not worth the price....the 'Fine' oak available only at North American duty-free shops would be the better option

11th June 2018

I've been drinking single malt whiskies over the last twenty years and throughout my journey my preferences have changed dozens of times. I have come to understand that there are no perfect whiskies or best and favorite single malt, it all depends on one's mood at the given moment. Don't be fooled by marketing gimmicks such as the Rolls-Royce of whisky or online reviews of "whisky gurus" blabbing about how great IB bottlings of cask strength whiskies are and the inferiority of chill-filtration products, etc... Your best bet is to buy and try, and that is where the Master of Malt truly shines as it offers the great possibility to order countless options in dram-size samples.

The 12 years old Double Cask from Macallan is neither challenging nor a very complex product. It's a bit unfortunate that it is offered at 40% strength here, compared to the 43% for the US market. However, for what it is, this is undoubtedly a well-crafted product which is both enjoyable and easy-sipping at anytime or occasion. The quality of the casks used is truly evident as with most products from the distillery. It's a great whisky for beginners and experienced drinkers alike. Not a cloying sherry-bomb, definitely less sherried than its sherry cask sibling, offering more honeyed creamy/custardy profile. Typical Speyside/Highland style without coastal or peaty nuances. Unfortunately, it is a bit thin at those 40%, but nevertheless certainly a quality modern whisky!!! Still, just one person's humble opinion ;)

4th May 2018

New to scotch. Tried this 12 Double Cask, it was smooth. Its good for a beginner or for anytime. Since i am a newbie, its hard to detect all the notes but i did get a nuttiness flavour. Normally, mid to high $90's Canadian but found it for $64.99. $64.99 is still a little high.

27th April 2018

The first Macallan whisky I've tried.
I really enjoyed it.
Very smooth and sweet. Very viscous, left long legs down the sides of the glass. Lots of candied fruit on the palate with a nice oaky aftertaste. Would buy again.

11th March 2018

It's good, no doubt about it, but very similar to the Macallan Amber, in taste and in price too.

1st March 2018

I truly do not understand all these negative reviews with this one. It’s a balanced whisky with the complexity of the oak and a medium to long finish. Citrus is there, peppery spiciness is there, sweetness is there. No sulphur smell or taste like other Macallans (akham 12 sherry). It’s an enjoyable dram. And at 55 euros the price is really not that bad.

Is it the best 12 year old that I’ve ever had, no, but it’s certainly not a bad one. And my non whisky friends tend to like this one.

26th February 2018

My second ever bottle as I have just begun my journey through the whiskey market. Must say that my experience with this bottle will never be forgotten. Fresh and light on the nose, sweet and creamy on the palate. One of the most inoffensive Scotches I have ever tried and definitely will keep stocked up for years to come.

Not much in way for those who like a bigger kick or prefer a burn on the nose. If you're looking for peat this is definitely not for you, although I must say it is a Scotch everyone should try at least once.

7th February 2018

Best scotch I have ever had. Awesome. Great taste.

24th December 2017

Tasty and Smooth. $74.99 Canadian in Alberta, Canada. A little high but that's typical of Macallan. Good for everyday.

12th November 2017

A delightful dram nosing with hints of candied citrus and earth with layered flavors of stone fruits and clover honey. Elegant and as unassuming as a stretch on the river Spey.

4th November 2017

This is a decent lighter sherried Macallan and exactly what I expected to find in the bottle, those reviewers knocking it for not being more heavily sherried should have read the description before purchasing, this is a very good lighter sherried Macallan 12.

26th September 2017

Finally an aged release compared to all those high priced NAS crap from Macallan. Bought is at high price at a specialist shop in MY. Not justified. Sherry 12 is always the best. FO 12 is good. This has thin body.

9th August 2017

For me its thin and a shadow of its former self. It used to pride itself in distinctive exellence now its big business . There are a multitude of other Single Malts doing more interesting expressions

4th July 2017

Hard to find uniqueness in this one. Decent scotch, caramel, vanilla, soft, oaky, slightly charred oak. Lacking, but nice nonetheless

15th June 2017

I actually really like this one surprised by the reviews. This is between the overly sherried classic 12 year and the barely sherried but incredibly smooth fine oak. Nice and oaky,good amount of sherry fruit and caramel with honey and some charred wood smoke weaving its way throughout. Considering how overpriced most of what Macallan makes is this seems reasonable for the price. Very nice dram indeed. The Sugarbear

7th June 2017

I think this one is a little light, watery, lacking complexity, yet with all the notes reminiscent of Macallan Sherry Oak style - Mifune

24th May 2017

This whiskey bridges the gap between the Fine Oak and traditional sherry cask expressions. It offers enough flavor and richness to keep a regular sherried Scotch drinker interested without the full body and palate coating sherry flavor that turns off some whiskey drinkers. I was pleasantly surprised.

24th April 2017

I purchased a bottle last night ($99 CAD). I think that "Soft and Dainty" review describes it perfectly: dialed down, soft, only half of what I expected. No intensity, nor challenge. It's good for easy drinking with friends who usually don't drink Scotch. Demanding whisky drinker will spend money on some other brands that cost less, and give more (Springbank, Bunnahabhain).

16th April 2017

I agree with Soft and dainty, it's not as flavored as the 12 yr sherry cask. It was smooth but lacked the burst of flavors that I'm used to from Macallan. Overall not completely disappointed, but expected more from the Highlands.

26th January 2017

I enjoyed this as day 12 of my Scotch Whisky Advent Calendar. This may be "soft" but it is not "dainty". My favorites are big smoky peaty Islays, and this has plenty of flavor for me. It's not big, not peaty, and softly smoky, but it is full of flavor. Classic Macallan profile with sherry sweetness and a bit of extra spice. I'm saddened that this sold out. It's much better than any of Macallan's NAS offerings that I have tried.

13th December 2016

I don't normally write reviews but felt I should when I read the "soft and dainty" review on here, I think some folks relate intensity of flavour to quality. First of all it is good to see an age statement on a Macallan release, it is an enjoyable sherried Macallan with touches of the Fine Oak, it is not as big sherried as the standard Mac 12 but a decent sherried Macallan all the same. No complaints from me for this one.

14th November 2016

Nose – Orange, much like their 15 yo Fine Oak. Vanilla and oak. Apple.
Palate – Unlike their 12 yo sherried cask, this lacks the body. Has the quintessential Macallan flavours, however, dialed down. It’s sweet but not honey sweet, more caramel sweet which leads me to its creaminess and a tad buttery which both linger.
Finish is short and dry. What little spices to arrive at the start of the palate do not linger on. A very soft finish.
Overall, I must say this is half what I expected. I would gladly take their 12 year sherry oak any day of the week. Overall this whisky is soft, dainty, something I’d serve my grandmother or a new whisky drinker. If you’re looking for something great, this wasn’t it.

3rd November 2016

You will actually get everything that the tasting notes say.

22nd September 2016