
The distillery highlights the paleness with a white label and a white box. This bottle of whiskey has a very light, pale-yellow color. So, was Macallan able to find the right balance? Read more to find out! Macallan Fine Oak 10-Year Tasting Notes COLOR However, now they have brought in bourbon casks to produce spirits at a lower price point. They still use the sherry casks for much, if not most, of what they make. In 2004, the Macallan distillery began adding bourbon oak casks to their process. Their solution? Fine oak casks, used previously for making bourbon. Of course, they didn’t want to compromise on quality. Rather than lose potential new patrons, Macallan looked for a way to keep a choice at a more accessible price point. You can easily drop several hundred dollars on a 20-year Macallan. At the same time, as Macallan whiskey has grown in popularity, the price point has steadily climbed. They are a niche, and distilleries pay top dollar for them. That’s because the Macallan 10 Year is a departure from this regional standard.Īlas, these sherry casks are fairly expensive, especially when compared to other types of casks available on the market. This is going to be an important point when we finally get around to talking about the Macallan 10 Year (and I promise, we will). Aficionados of scotch have come to expect and enjoy these flavors. The sherry casks allow the whiskey to open up, becoming complex and smokey as they age. So where do the fruit-forward flavors that Macallan and the Speyside distilleries are known for come from? In large part, it’s the distilleries’ use of sherry casks, sourced from Spain. This temper the peat, salt, and shoe varnish flavors that are famous in other regions of Scotland. Speyside whiskies differentiate themselves by having more prominent fruit flavors.

The distillery is located directly north of Edinburgh, between Inverness and Aberdeen.

Macallan is in the heart of the Speyside region of Scotland, which is famous for its fertile glens and the beautiful River Spey. The process, along with the regional resources (water, peat, grains, etc.) also means that each region has a unique style and flavor. (The other two highest producers are Glenfiddich and Glenlivet.)Įach region of Scotland has its own style of making whisky. Founded in 1824, it is one of the top three highest producers of single-malt scotches, making it a well-known and recognizable brand. It’s located in Craigellachie, Moray, Scotland. The Macallan distillery is a single malt Scotch whisky distillery.
