Macallan 12-year-old

Overall rating
86.21/100
votes
458
Whiskybase ID
WB13328
Category
Single Malt
Distillery
Bottler
Distillery Bottling
Bottling serie
Sherry Oak
Stated Age
12 years old
Casktype
Sherry Oak Casks
Strength
43.0 % Vol.
Size
750 ml
Barcode
087236100001
Market
United States United States
Added on
29 jan 2010 1:38 am
Macallan 12-year-old
Photo by Pese
Macallan 12-year-old
Photo by nc2malt
Macallan 12-year-old
Photo by nc2malt
Macallan 12-year-old
Photo by nc2malt
Macallan 12-year-old
Photo by Feis_ile

Average value

€ 119.03

Found 1 online shops. Lowest price:

€ 210.00
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458 × member ratings

1849 × in collection

Whisky reviews for Macallan 12-year-old

43 users have left 45 reviews for this whisky. Average rating is 86.21 points.

  1. Gloin scored this whisky 85 points Expert Senior

    The smell is wonderful, soft and yet full, multi-layered and harmonious. Even if the taste is a little less mild, it fits well with the impression, which one has won when smelling. Versatile, interesting and beautiful. The departure, on the other hand, disappoints, as it has a one-sided effect compared to impressions in the nose and mouth.
    Still, a nice whisky and not unjustly a legend among the younger standards.
    • Nose
      It starts with a nice aroma of ... whisky. The impressions are so interwoven that it is difficult at first to define individual ones. Cherry, caramel, earth, slightly sour, orange, semi-dry red wine, all soft and harmonious
    • Taste
      Very light body, almost watery, medium onset, oak, coffee, burnt sugar, spicier than the nose would suggest, dried fruits, raisins, the association of leather, with time the whisky becomes milder and sweeter, from which initially black coffee becomes Milk coffee with sugar and a fine piece of chocolate
    • Finish
      Some oak, very delicate bitterness, half bitter chocolate, distant memory of raisins

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  3. gaboruso scored this whisky 85 points Connoisseur

    • Nose
      87 87
    • Taste
      85 85
    • Finish
      84 84

  4. herby.usa scored this whisky 92 points Expert Senior

    A very pleasant, drinkable sherry dram.
    Fruit notes and light oak spice are to be emphasized.

    02/19/2022: Well, after it's been open for a while and the bottle is a bit smaller, it's really tasty.
    For me, it easily goes into the 90s now.
    • Nose
      Fruity sherry notes, cherry, plum, honey, vanilla, sweet
      slight sour note on the nose.
    • Taste
      Pure fruit, dark red berries, but also plums, cherries, Christmas spices
      slight oak influence, vanilla, cinnamon,
    • Finish
      has a pleasant taste.
      Tannins dry out the mouth / fruitiness spreads

  5. ffmdino did not rate this whisky Connoisseur

    I really liked the nose and the palate
    the malt is challenging and complex
    • Nose
      older oak, sherry, polish, mix of sweet and tart berries, old rubber, minimal leather, sweetness, slightly spicy, slightly raisins becomes stronger, slightly dark malt comes along, plus a note that I cannot name

      from the 1920s: a lot of old wood, a chemical note, light paper, leather, dark waffle, pepper
    • Taste
      oily and full on the palate
      old oak, sherry, raisins, dark berries (tart currants), becomes bitter, workshop comes light, slightly dark caramel
    • Finish
      medium to long
      Sherry, spicy, a bit like oil, chemical note, becomes very tart

  6. nallacam scored this whisky 87 points Connoisseur

    • Nose
      89 89
    • Taste
      87 87
    • Finish
      85 85

  7. Totoro scored this whisky 86 points Connoisseur

    • Nose
      88 88
      Meaty, savory / umami top notes that mash very well with the spicy, big-bodied Macallan character. Very dark, with plenty of roast aromas and wood spices - I suspect a good dose of European oak. Eating morello cherries dipped in dark chocolate off a polished mahagoni table, something like that. Lovely.
    • Taste
      86 86
      Extremely spicy and dark here as well: espresso, dark chocolate, charcoal, nutmeg, cinnamon, cherry, ripe juicy oranges spiked with cloves... The extra 3 percent ABV (compared to the EU version) really deliver additional flavor. Yes, it's a bit thin, but the spicy oak creates enough of a kick on the palate to make it work. Would it be even better at 46%? Duh.
    • Finish
      85 85
      Chocolate and coffee, soft gingery spiciness, perhaps a faint idea of dried plums or figs. Here the strength strikes me as too low, as it fades out faster than I'd like.

  8. Bam scored this whisky 87 points Expert Senior

    It has its reputation not wrongly. A very fine, well balanced and round sherry whisky.
    • Nose
      A rather heavy, but at the same time elegant sherry scent rises from the glass. Raisins, morello cherries, grape-nut chocolate, grapefruit. Carried by a set oak note.
    • Taste
      Middle start, oily / silky mouthfeel. Raisins, lemons, milk chocolate, red grape juice. Then slowly the oak with dark caramel, and light seasoning.
    • Finish
      Medium length. Raisins, Caramel, Lemon, and Milk Chocolate. A fine oak note pulls the finish a little longer.

  9. Furosin scored this whisky 85 points Expert Junior

    • Nose
      86 86
      Sherry, raisins, cherry, plums, honey, caramel, toffee, vanilla, slightly alcoholic, fruity and sour
    • Taste
      85 85
      spicy, somewhat sweet, oak, rather easy start, sherry, raisins, dark chocolate, floral notes, pepper, vanilla, walnuts, alcohol is well integrated
    • Finish
      84 84
      medium length, chocolate, wood notes, slightly bitter, spicy

  10. Scherenschnitte scored this whisky 83 points Expert Senior

    Bottled February 2018:

    Macallan is a company that prioritizes their brand image over the quality of their product. It shows. From ugly new bottles to the new bullshit about "matured exclusively in hand-picked sherry seasoned oak casks from Jerez, Spain for richness and complexity"... Whatever the fuck that means… I've heard the new Macallan 12 (and 18 for that matter) are a distant shadow of the old Macallans of the past and frankly that doesn't surprise me one bit. The one thing I can tell you with certainty is that l won't be purchasing any new distillery bottling from them in the foreseeable future. ⁣
    ⁣
    Uninspiring and just plain average⁣
    • Nose
      Raisins, figs, honey, toffee, mustiness, leather, vanilla. Pretty solid nose⁣
    • Taste
      Mouthfeel is medium-thin. Creamy, spicy note immediately followed by some fruitiness, raisins, orange peel, cloves, oak influence, milk chocolate⁣
    • Finish
      Medium-short length. Dark fruits, milk chocolate, wood spice, and a lingering vanilla note to the very end

  11. jabguit scored this whisky 90 points Expert Junior

    for my money this one has 90% of the toasted oak sherry character of the 18 yr., but more mouthfeel than the 18 yr. 2019 release

  12. 11insomnium scored this whisky 82 points Expert Senior

    One-dimensional and simple at the beginning. A little more aromatic and complex after several minutes.
    • Nose
      Mild and light, a bit spicy, earthy and tart, only light sweetness and fruit
    • Taste
      At first mild fruit, little sweetness, delicate sherry, later fruity and somewhat floral, spicy
    • Finish
      Short and mild

  13. pianoman scored this whisky 87 points Connoisseur

    • Nose
      Elegant. Flower shop, sherry, some honey and vanilla. Marzipan with chocolate. Overall similar, but a little more intense than the 40% version.
    • Taste
      Light. Sherry, honey, almonds, marzipan. Some walnut.

  14. S_S scored this whisky 84 points Member Senior

    After the first try, the malt failed for me. He is boring. Very fine sherry, almost imperceptible. Absolutely unspectacular and boring. Soft. You can taste the young age.

    After half a year and rehearsal I have to say that I probably expected too much. He is drinkable, does not make much demands. I do not need a bottle.
    • Nose
      85 85
    • Taste
      84 84
    • Finish
      82 82

  15. LeChiffre scored this whisky 86 points Connoisseur

    A beautiful sherry malt without big corners and edges. Very pleasing and tasty. I like it. But I wouldn't spend more than about 65 euros for it.
    • Nose
      87 87
      Sherry; fruit notes (dried fruits); a touch of honey; Vanilla; pleasantly slightly leathery; spicy; light oak note in the background
    • Taste
      86 86
      lies soft in the mouth; sweet-spicy; dried fruits; slightly nutty; hints of leather; chocolate notes; Oak
    • Finish
      85 85
      medium and the flavor continues; spicy; nutty; dried fruits; chocolate note; pleasantly tart persistent oak

  16. LucasPnk scored this whisky 85 points Member Senior

    • Nose
      86 86
      Very rich and sustained, lots of fruits, banana, orange, raisins, vanilla, honey
    • Taste
      84 84
      Very / very sweet in the mouth, it is very balanced, dry fruit, leather, hazel .. Not so sweet as that, there is even very slight smoky notes. This continues on the liquorice stick, oak, and sweet spices. It's pretty well done but lacks intensity!
    • Finish
      85 85
      Moderately long. Nice balance between sweetness and bitterness. Some touches of vanilla, and cinnamon.

  17. EnjoyLife89 scored this whisky 90 points Expert Senior

    In direct comparison to 40% execution, the differences are marginal for me. Really easy.
    But he just remains a great malt, unfortunately a bit overpriced.
    • Nose
      Sweet, dark fruit, plum, honey, caramel
    • Taste
      Sweet, fruit, absolute sherry note
    • Finish
      Medium length, slight oak note, sweetness remains, a trace of vanilla

  18. gallfux did not rate this whisky Expert Senior

    Certainly not a classic. He's good. Currently but too expensive for the offered.
    • Nose
      A classic Sherry-Malt nose. Datteln. Plum cake. Forest honey. Some leather. A few carnations. Raisins covered with chocolate. Some sourish oak notes.
    • Taste
      First pretty soft and creamy. Toffee. Sugar candy. Honey. Some plum jam. Magenbrot. Raisins. But then, for only 43%, surprising start. As probably makes the oak noticeable. Some pepper. Tobacco.
    • Finish
      Orange peel. Cappuccino. Oak spice.

  19. AlainMalt09 scored this whisky 85 points Member Senior

    • Nose
      87 87
    • Taste
      85 85
    • Finish
      86 86

  20. mr_braun scored this whisky 88 points Expert Senior

    Very tasty, surely covered for today's prices in Europe and not worth 100 euros; However, I still paid 69 euros for the bottle and you can't go wrong with that.
    • Nose
      Sherry in advance with a light, leathery oak note and toffee. Dark fruits only come to the fore with a little more time.
    • Taste
      Mouth-filling, creamy-spicy feeling. A very distinctive oak flavor for its 12 years. Hints of sherry, tobacco, dark fruits.
    • Finish
      Medium length and paired with oak spice, very aromatic, maybe a little cocoa.

  21. OKoster scored this whisky 86 points Expert Senior

    The Macallan Elegancia was a travel retail exclusive released in 2002 and discontinued in 2009. It bears a 12 year age statement and was matured in a combination of ex-fino and ex-Oloroso casks, a deviation from the traditional house style of resting its spirit in strictly ex-Oloroso sherry casks. This single malt bottling was a precursor to the release of Macallan's Fine Oak series in the early-2000s (also aged in ex-Oloroso sherry, but blended with spirit aged in ex-bourbon casks). Fino sherry is a lighter style of this fortified wine than Oloroso, and its casks are not nearly as commonly used in Scotch production as those of Oloroso. Bottled at 40% ABV.
    • Nose
      85 85
    • Taste
      85 85
    • Finish
      90 90

  22. Lorion scored this whisky 85 points Connoisseur

    I like it and for 40 € it would be a showcase for good and cheap whiskys.
    • Nose
      Sherry, oak, fruit, sweetie. Everything a whisky from the sherry keg needs. Not very intense and complex, but available. Really delicious. Enjoyable. Fancy a mouthful.
    • Taste
      No surprise. Creamy, soft mouthfeel with all the things the nose promises. Orange, a hint of fig and raisin. Oak, a little more than expected. Full and slightly sparkling. Sweet dessert.
    • Finish
      Medium long, fruity-sweet with a subtle oak.

  23. EinSpatzUnterVielen scored this whisky 86 points Expert Senior

    A real 40% increase, all a bit more present and aromatic - very fine sherry malt, who does not like it too powerful, will find here a very elegant classic - beautiful! (The invoked very high price is not worth imho though.)
    • Nose
      Raisins, butter toffee, caramel, vanilla, cinnamon, nutmeg, honey, hazelnuts, milk chocolate, dates, apples, oranges, black cherries, marzipan, thick sherry notes, clover, lilac, jasmine, a touch of smoke, traces of leather, wonderfully soft and round and appetizing, much better than the 40%, very nice nose
    • Taste
      velvety, spicy, orange, dark chocolate, turning into coffee, ginger, nutmeg, cinnamon, thick caramel, dark honey, vanilla, gingerbread, hazelnuts, raisins, almonds, sweet black cherries, candied apple, some cherry-tobacco, malt, always more vanilla, powdered sugar, vanilla crisp, almond croissants, all flavors fine and in good balance
    • Finish
      medium length, slightly sweet, slightly peppery, fine fruit notes, vanilla, caramel and marzipan

  24. EinSpatzUnterVielen scored this whisky 86 points Expert Senior

    • Nose
      89 89
    • Taste
      87 87
    • Finish
      85 85

  25. Mannheimer scored this whisky 87 points Expert Junior

    Very nice balance, 43% vol. bring an extra kick and a bit more depth compared to the 40%. Sounds a bit cliché, but you want such a nice malt in the winter in front of the fireplace.
    • Nose
      Elegant sherry with spices (cinnamon), toffee and butterscotch. Seductive caramel sweets, raisins, very balanced. No trace of alcohol, nice aromatic.
    • Taste
      Sweet delicate start, the elegance itself! On the palate develop oranges, apples, ripe pears, sherry and clear milk chocolate. Appearance of wood and citrus in the background.
    • Finish
      Nice long-lasting with many spices, sherry and these crass toffee notes, very warm.

  26. zaphod155 scored this whisky 82 points Expert Senior

    The whisky takes time to develop. Immediately after opening the bottle he was disappointing for me. Half a year later, I find it delicious and relatively complex for a 12-year-old.
    • Nose
      Vanilla, sherry, honey, neat spicy and nutty notes
    • Taste
      Malt, honey, vanilla, some oak and orange. After a while, coffee flavors still come.
    • Finish
      Medium long, spicy and malty

  27. whiskyinstitut scored this whisky 86 points Connoisseur

    Very beautiful!
    • Nose
      Orange juice, gingerbread, creme brulee, clove, canned peach, a light cherry, a whole picture like a very sweet red wine
    • Taste
      Sherrysweet, wonderfully creamy and almost creamy, light nuttiness, milk chocolate, dry wood
    • Finish
      The creamy milk chocolate keeps well in the mouth, the dry woodiness remains, for just 43%, the finish remains quite long, but overall rather medium length

  28. wbarchive_485944 scored this whisky 89 points Expert Junior

    • Nose
      91 91
    • Taste
      87 87
    • Finish
      90 90

  29. uap304 scored this whisky 84 points Expert Senior

    It's not my favorite type of sherry, but almost as good as the venerable Macallan 18, and a worthy torch-bearer of the genre.
    • Nose
      Sherry and grape-y. Stale vitamins. Heather honey, vanilla, hazelnut.
    • Taste
      Syrupy. Hot. Prunes and other fruit. Ballooning development, becoming spicy hot and malty.
    • Finish
      "Jack Daniels" sweet and tart. Fading into cane sugar cola with the repeating sherry coda. Elements of salt, nuts, chocolate pudding, and more heat.

  30. dRambo scored this whisky 82 points Connoisseur

    • Nose
      85 85
    • Taste
      85 85
    • Finish
      85 85

  31. J23 did not rate this whisky Expert Junior

    Vanilla ish on the nose, combined with some sherry and fruit. Very full and rich of texture. Lot's of spiced, (dried) fruit and sherry. The finish contains more spices and fruit. 

    Really loved this dram. 

    Too bad the price keeps getting up. 

    Can't buy this as often as I'd like. 
    • Nose
      82 82
    • Taste
      85 85
    • Finish
      84 84

  32. spigray scored this whisky 85 points Connoisseur

    • Nose
      84 84
    • Taste
      86 86
    • Finish
      85 85

  33. spigray scored this whisky 85 points Connoisseur

    my notes from a blind tasting
    n: very malty and considerably caramelly  with a clear sherry influence and perhaps a small thread of smoke.
        sultanas, dates and some allspice and nutmeg.
    t: medium sweet, again very malty and caramelly, dried fruits, pastries, and
       again the assumed hint of smoke.
    f: medium in length, slowly drying
    assumption: I guess around 12 years or a bit younger, the style lets me guess
                        it is either a speysider (macallan speymalt) or a highlander
                       ( blair athol or a newer glen garioch)
    85/100

  34. PeterCr scored this whisky 85 points Expert Junior

    Not overly complex but nice mouthfeel, nice dynamics in the tasty and very good balance.
    • Nose
      Quite powerfull and spicy nose with some dark cherries, dark chocolade, oak. Also some earthy tones in the nose. Not overly complex.
    • Taste
      Smooth, oily, sweetness by raisins, some spices after the smooth opening. Nice mouthfeel but not very complex.
    • Finish
      Medium finish with some interesting balance in sweet and spicy. Hints of dark chocolade and oak in the finish make it interesting. Dry in the end.

  35. Mr.Edradour scored this whisky 84 points Connoisseur

    • Nose
      86 86
    • Taste
      86 86
    • Finish
      84 84

  36. MadScientist scored this whisky 85 points Connoisseur

    • Nose
      85 85
    • Taste
      85 85
    • Finish
      84 84

  37. The-Man-best-Friend scored this whisky 88 points Expert Senior

    09/2015 bought in the net for Euro 50.-. Fine drop, there everything is right.
    • Nose
      88 88
    • Taste
      88 88
    • Finish
      88 88

  38. Part-Time-Alcoholic scored this whisky 85 points Member Junior

    First Macallan i've tried. Definitely a whisky I would try again and also would like to discover different bottlings. Unfortunately, hard to obtain in Europe, especially Switzerland. 
    • Nose
      Sherry, fruity, very sweet
    • Taste
      More sherry, honey, oily, spicy
    • Finish
      Very rich, warm, long

  39. Conmai scored this whisky 88 points Expert Senior

    • Nose
      90 90
    • Taste
      89 89
    • Finish
      90 90

  40. Doctor B. scored this whisky 85 points Expert Senior

    • Nose
      84 84
    • Taste
      87 87
    • Finish
      86 86

  41. Goethe scored this whisky 83 points Connoisseur

    Not so much going on here concerning the flavour. Quite an odd presentation.

    Concerning price/performance ratio: 6/10
    • Nose
      Oloroso sherry on the arrival. Honey, vanilla, rasins, floral.
    • Taste
      Oloroso sherry, a few dried fruits, oak, spicy, nuts.
    • Finish
      Toffee, marmelade, walnuts, soap.

  42. erogers scored this whisky 91 points Expert Senior

    Remarkably flavorful and rich.  Excellent oak wood finish with cherry vanilla flavors.  For a first foray into 12 year old Speyside, sherry-influenced malts, this is the definitive example, and one which will be a standard of comparison for others.
    • Nose
      Very sweet cherry and vanilla, with oak wood and some spice.  Almost cognac-like.
    • Taste
      Extremely rich, with more notes of cherry and vanilla.  Some spicy qualities like ginger and nutmeg (maybe cinnamon also).
    • Finish
      Oak wood and nuttiness, with a bit of toffee.  Very smooth…very little burn at all.

  43. noqster scored this whisky 83 points Member Senior

    Something in this one isn't quite right. Not as good as other Macallan I've tasted.
    Sulphur?

    Decent but not great as some other macallan.

  44. Shane087 scored this whisky 86 points Member Senior

    My first experience with Macallan, very smooth, light on peat, sweet with a little smoke.  I look forward to experiencing other whiskies in the Macallan brand.
    • Nose
      84 84
    • Taste
      85 85
    • Finish
      86 86

  45. yabasaha scored this whisky 81 points Newbie

    Sherry and oaky with a lot of wood. Slight vanilla and fruity flavor. Deep oak smell, tender finish with strong aftertaste.

  46. mmaclean scored this whisky 88 points Connoisseur

    One of the first Scotches in my collection and is very nice for the beginner. This scotch is great because the sherry finish is well balanced and nice finish. Continue on your journey from here though. The farther you go on the Macallan train the more you will enjoy the depths the scotch will take you.

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