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Amber is part of The Macallan's new no age statement range of Speyside single malts, which concentrates on colour. The theory is that by using 100% sherry casks and natural colour, the darker the whisky, the older and more complex.
This bottle was part of a private collection - if you'd like more detailed photos just get in touch!
Tasting Note by The Chaps at Master of Malt
Nose
Soft aromatic vanilla, lemon and barley with hints of ginger. Milk chocolate buttons and hints of Sun-Maid Raisins.
Palate
Surprisingly thick and fruity compared to the nose. Golden sultanas, dates, apple peelings and a dusting of cinnamon. Cereal notes on the mid-palate, joined by mince pies with crumbly shortbread.
Finish
Fragrant oak finish, with the mince pie notes lingering.
Overall
The second level in the 1824 Series, after the more citrus-led Gold.
Refutes the claim that NAS whiskies are poorer. A lovely whisky.
The dry fruits come through on the nose and the palate. The spirit is not overwhelmed or overpowered by the dominant assertive nature of the European Oak, probably because it is still a fairly young whisky.
Cinnamon, raisins, currants, sultanas, figs, all come through strongly, but so does the Golden Promise barley influence in terms of fruity, nutty waxy oily spicey slightly bitter notes along with barley sugar notes.
A lovely whisky.
Kevin Nov 26, 2019
Spey that’s nice with spicy price
This is quite a pleasant speysider.
Let’s try to forget for a moment, what name’s on the label. Then more people might rate this better. ‘Cause it’s actually very well made. It has the delightful nose that gives away a sherried whisky. It has the freshnes and fruitines the is speyside, a crisp and spicy taste and a rather fat mouthfeel. The finish is fairly long and pleasant.
At this point I’m 4.5, but:
It does have a pricetag where you can easily find better competitors among Benriach, Glenlivet and others.
That’s. When we remember the name on the label.
You do pay for that name.
For what it is though - it is a good whisky but fans of the brand may find it a bit underwhelming.
Master of Malt Customer Sep 28, 2019
Dependably average, but expensive for that.
I am not a scotch connoisseur, but enjoy a good dram now and then. A bottle of the Amber was my first taste of a Speyside. I have mostly enjoyed the heavy smokey peat of Islay (Lagavulin and Laphraoig), the honey and flowers of Dalwhinie and the "ocean and seaweed in your mouth" of Talisker. I was excited to finally try a Macallan and there was no 12 or 18 available. The Amber was smooth and easy to drink (my wife liked it best), but I felt I had been left at the altar compared to my usual drams. I am unsure whether to just be content with those I have come to love or try again with another Macallan. I have read the comments about "no age". I generally don't buy non-vintage wines (I'm in Europe), but I understand in California the weather is so consistent that vintages were not important until they began competing with European wines and it was the required protocol for anything over $15. I understand the side that says, "judge by the taste, not the age, but I feel part of the appreciation of a good dram is its story, location, type of casks, age in the cask, etc. etc. and so, if I want a decent table wine or a dependable average dram of scotch, the vintage/age doesn't matter much, but for that special adventure, knowing the weather challenges and individual characteristics of a vintage are important to me and the same with a special dram of single malt whisky. For the price, I expected more than a table bottle/dram.
David Browning Jan 8, 2019
Enjoyed drinking it !
Smooth and well balanced. I usually drink the standard Balvenie
Daniel Gottlieb Sep 25, 2018
Stay away from this one.
Nose is almost non existent. Palate is limited (vanilla and dried fruits mostly).
Finish? What finish? On the bright side it's rather smooth with very little if any mouth burn.
Overall I wouldn't say this is a bad single malt, just a fantastically overpriced one.
You have been warned!
