The Macallan 15-Year-Old Double Cask Single Malt Scotch Whisky

The 15-year-old expression from Macallan’s Double Cask series.

Double Cask uses sherry seasoned American and European oak barrels – matured separately and married after 15 years.

This 15-year-old expression was introduced in 2020 after the 12-year-old appeared in 2016.

Official Tasting Notes:

Nose: Dried fruit, toffee and vanilla with smooth oak and baked apple. Balanced with notes of honey and chocolate.

Palate: Sweet raisin and sultana builds with hints of vanilla, wood spice and citrus.

Finish: Warm with ginger turning to caramel and citrus, with a lingering and creamy mouth feel.

Macallan is one of the world’s best known – and by value best selling – Scottish single malt whiskies. Founded in 1824, it has become a marker of prestige and quality since the distillery placed a focus on ex-sherry casks in the ’70s. 

That focus has continued into the present, with some reports suggesting that as many of 97% of casks filled at the distilley in the present day are sherry-seasoned before being filled with whisky.

In 2017 Macallan’s owners Edrington Group commissioned a new distillery building complete with 12 wash stills 24 spirits stills that will increase production capacity from 11 million litres a year to 15 million. It was opened in May 2018 and was believed to cost £140m – the old distillery building closed December 2018.

Macallan’s new make spirit is rich and oily and takes time to mature in their sherry seasoned casks, often the best expressions are in the teenage years.