MACALLAN 1989 Aged 30 years

Speyside Single Malt – 50.4%, 70cl
Single Cask #6920 – Hogshead
Limited Edition of 159 bottles
LMDW Exclusive

Long fermentations (60 hours) and slow distillation in very small stills designed to obtain a rich and concentrated new-make spirit (with each still connected to two spirit stills) are just some of the ingredients that have forged the character of this internationally renowned single malt since 1824. Sherry cask Macallans bottled by independent bottlers are these days highly prized, so what about Macallan’s bourbon casks? This absolutely magnificent Artist bottling is undeniably one of the jewels of the eponymous range created by La Maison du Whisky in 2011.

Colour: vibrant golden yellow.

Description

rich, captivating. The particularly mineral (chalk, schist) initial nose shows rare fullness. Whether exotic, white or dry, many different fruits are revealed (pineapple, banana, apple, Mirabelle plum, walnut, date). Allowed to breathe, freshly cut grass, citrus fruit (lemon, grapefruit) and medicinal notes (mustard, ointment) create a solid base for an aromatic palette which becomes increasingly heady and rustic (iris, dandelion). The nose shines with luminosity. Spectacular.

lively, full-bodied. The attack first returns to the exotic character of the nose, adding vanilla and a thin layer of salted butter caramel. The gently spiced (star anise, ginger) mid-palate is also earthy and rustic (mushroom, humus). With time, notes of beeswax and peppermint bring lots of smoothness and tone to the end of the tasting.

long, dynamic. Dried flowers, green liquorice and nobly woody flavours (cedar) highlight the class and complexity of the flavour palette. Next, vanilla pod, cocoa bean and aromatic plants (rosemary, verbena) accentuate the magnificently powdery character. On the retro-nasal olfaction, grains of malted barley literally roll across the palate. The empty glass is medicinal (tiger balm) and spicy (clove, ginger).

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