Whisky : Macallan 25 Year 1995, Dramfool “Malt can heal”

Country/Region : Scotland/Speyside

ABV : 51.5%

Cask : Ex-Bourbon

Age : 25 Year (Distilled 20 Sept. 1995, Bottled 21 Sept. 2020)

Nose :  Fruity and herbal.  Salted lemon and orange peel, pineapple, chrysanthemum tea, and a Chinese herbal shop.  Fainter notes of sandalwood and salty dried fish lingered behind topical fruits.  A few drops of water brought out floral vanilla and cream which complimented the fresh cut tropical fruits.

Palate : Mellow and viscous with notes of earth, cream, and fruit.  Burst of earthy ginger and turmeric before subtle notes of star anise, pandan sugar, and citrus oil appeared.  Fruity notes of unripened white pineapple, passionfruit, and creamy-starchy rice pudding.  

Finish : Lingering vanilla cream, citrus, and honey.

Score : 8

Mental Image : Halekulani Sunday Brunch Buffet 

Notes :  Delicate, yet syrupy, this dram was full of contrasts.  It was incredibly mellow and refined, yet it packed the flavor of a firm, comforting hug (it was too nice to be a flavor punch).  After twenty-five years in an ex-bourbon cask this Macallan was no where near over oaked and had no astringency— it was really, to lean on an overused descriptor, smooth.  The mouthfeel was incredibly viscous and the flavor profile revealed balanced layers of cream, fruit, and earthy spice.  A few drops of water brought out more cream and even though this drank beautifully (and dangerously) at cask strength, those few drops of water really opened up more subtle fruits and gave it the impression of a creamy tropical fruit cup.

Overall, this was an exceptional pour and totally unlike what I expected from Macallan.  I wondered if an ex-bourbon cask could really be that good when the distillery is best known for its sherry maturation and finishes, but this was excellent and had all of the complexity and long finish I want from an older dram.  Two friends listed this as potentially their number one dram of the year.  I think it has a lot of competition— thanks in part to quarantining at home I have had time for a lot of drams— but it definitely has a place in the conversation.