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Whisky Review: The Macallan Whisky Maker’s Edition

The Macallan Whisky Maker's Edition is an non-age statement travel retail exclusive release from the 1824 Collection. Is it worth your dollar?

OVERALL RATING

8
$499.99
  • Joshua St. John, a Portland-based runner and global whisky explorer.
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Tasting Notes

About:

42.8% ABV (85.6 proof), no age statement, 100% malted barley, available from around $400 depending on availability.
Appearance:
Honey amber. Thin, quick legs.
Nose:
Alcohol up front. Subtle at first, but opens dramatically after a few minutes. Lime seltzer, baked apple, cinnamon, raspberry jam, almost no oak presence at all. Loads of dark fruit make up the body the nose.
Palate:
Thin and delicate mouthfeel. Subtle sweetness initially reminiscent of maple candies followed quickly by floral and spice notes. Stewed apples in the skin baked with cinnamon sticks, holiday fruitcake, almost overwhelming nutmeg and clove late.
Finish:
Continued floral and spice notes late in the palate through the early finish. A late flash of a burn followed by a flood of sweet cream. Lacking in significant depth.
Comments:
The Macallan offers a lineup that is robust in comparison to any virtually any other producer of single malts. Producing spirit in large numbers offers them the opportunity to showcase variations across their own spectrum in a unique way. Overall, this dram was unbalanced and a little disappointing in my personal experience.

Like many Macallans, it benefits from being given time to breathe and open up. With the Whisky Maker’s Edition, I can’t help but feel that there is a reason the bottle does better with a somewhat captive audience in travel retail.

Editor’s Note: This whiskey was either bought as a sample by The Whiskey Wash or provided to us as a review sample by the party behind it. Per our editorial policies, this in no way influenced the outcome of this review.

Joshua St. John

When not savoring whiskey, Joshua St. John can likely be found exploring the trails of the Pacific Northwest near his Portland, Oregon, home. A lifelong world traveler, he was first captivated by single malts during visits to Scottish distilleries. He continues to explore the globe, discovering its diverse cultures through the myriad expressions of his beloved spirit.

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