Macallan's 1824 range has done away with age-statements and instead focuses on the colour of the whisky. The concept being that the older the whisky is the darker it will be... Regardless of how true this really is, it's certainly a great whisky packed with assertive vanilla and citrus flavours.
This bottle was part of a private collection - if you'd like more detailed photos just get in touch!
This burnished gold spirit presents a lemon citrus nose, the orange peel and an interlacing sweetness that softens but doesn't eliminate the zest. A quiet note of vanilla is followed by dark chocolate - more assertive, yet not overly so - with a lingering floral and light oak notes.
Citrus and boiled sweets rule the palate, along with hints of ginger and cinnamon, while soft oak tones reveal toasted apples.
The finish is medium sweet, malty and slightly dry.
At £29, fine. At £35, absolutely not. Confused, sulphurous, and rough, not a pleasant sort of rough either. Frustratingly, a pleasant nose, and strong evidence of some very good stuff being murdered in a rather coarse manner. If anyone can confirm sightings of a finish at Heathrow, please report it to the authorities without delay.
Love this whisky. Reminds me of the 10yo from about 10 - 12 years ago. A classic Macallan. A flawless clean classic sherried Macallan. Michael Jackson would have loved it. Bamber.
To me taking the age off the bottle is unacceptable. Although I believe that some whisky aged 12 years is better than some aged more years I still would like to see an age. Put a 9 on the bottle if its a 9 year old. Trying a 30 year old whisky is not just about taste but about the rareness and care of a 30 year process. As for the Gold - I thought it was pretty good. Still very much Macallan as a brand, but somewhat young tasting and a little rough around the edges.
I was a big fan of Macallan until I tried the Gold. What a disappointment ! It is so unfortunate to realize that even one of the best brands of Whiskeys will sacrifice quality for profits.
I honestly had few concerns about this being no age statement- the proof being I bought it! I loved 10 YO Sherry, and Fine Oaks but this was a joke from Macallan. There's was no smooth, chewy mouthful of Sherry, only cloying then vapid mouthfuls of disappointment. I hated this and would far rather have had a blend! This really disappoints me and please don't think me snobbish for writing this, because, as I say, I had few reservations. This is just a terrible Scotch. I would not touch it again and suggest your money is better spent elsewhere.
