There's something positive to be said of pride in production and heritage, as The Macallan and Highland Park scotch whisky exhibit with their expressions. Both these distillers have an exceptional lineup that showcases those qualities that they pride themselves on.
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Whenever I research a distillery for the various tasting panels I review, I’m struck by the pride of history and quality projected on their websites. There is such obvious pride in the way their whiskies are created and their rootedness to the region.
History and quality are emphasized over and over, and The Macallan and Highland Park scotch whisky display that in spades.
Marketing vs. pride
Now I know, of course, that a company’s website is where it presents the marketing image they want to project, and distillery websites are no different.
However, that doesn’t diminish the fact that, of the many brands that I’ve tasted over time, the products are of the highest quality and many distilleries have been making their spirits for a century or more.
What a particular distillery chooses to emphasize in their website speaks to what they’re most proud of, be it the quality of their ingredients, the type of still they use, the length of time they’ve been operating, or the heritage of the region.
It’s these qualities that came to mind as I looked at the websites for The Macallan and Highland Park, the two brands that were in last week’s Whisky Wednesday tasting at Gordons DTX.
Pointing to Viking history
At Highland Park, it’s their setting in the Orkney Islands and its cultural heritage to their Viking history that’s emphasized.
The peat used to dry their barley is unique to the region…"Completely woodless, this dense heathery peat burns slowly and with an astonishing intensity to create a complex floral aroma in our kilns that delivers the intensely balanced smoky sweetness found only in Highland Park."
They also emphasize the founder’s Viking roots…"Our founder, Magnus Eunson, was a direct Viking descendant. A butcher and church officer by day, and a smuggler by night, he set up his illicit still at a little bothy at High Park, overlooking Kirkwall – still the site of Highland Park today … We stay true to the exacting standards of whisky making our founder introduced, and share his bold and uncompromising approach. In fact, you could say we’re a whisky crafted in the old way by a new generation of Vikings."
Emphasizing small stills & cask selection
For The Macallan, it’s their “curiously small stills” they use to distill the spirit and exceptional aging casks that sets them apart.
Because the stills are small, the volume of the spirit that interacts with the copper begins the brand’s unique character…"The Macallan’s Curiously Small Stills are amongst the smallest on Speyside. Their unique size and shape give the spirit maximum contact with the copper, helping to concentrate the ‘new make’ spirit and provide the rich, fruity, full-bodied flavours characteristic of The Macallan."
And of the casks…"The Macallan’s oak casks are the single greatest contributor to the outstanding quality, natural colors and distinctive aromas and flavors … The Macallan spends more per cask than any other distillery in sourcing, crafting, seasoning and caring for its casks. Spanish sherry seasoned oak casks deliver flavors and aromas of chocolate orange, dried fruits and spices; American sherry seasoned oak casks primarily provide sweet citrus, light spice, vanilla and light oak flavors and aromas; American bourbon seasoned oak barrels give flavors and aromas of sweet citrus, coconut and oak."
Time to get to it, right?
My Tasting Notes
The Macallan and Highland Park Scotch
At Gordon’s DTX, February 7, 2018
The Macallan Amber
40%ABV, Finished in Spanish sherry casks and American sherry casks
Type: Scottish
Keywords: Scotch, Sherry Cask Finish, Single Malt, Speyside, Whisky
Tasting Notes
- Nose: Brown sugar, slightly grassy underneath, raisins
- Taste: Soft entry, cinnamon, ginger, gentle white pepper slowly rises
- Finish: Green apples with lingering cinnamon
Comments
A soft sip that really satisfies.
The Macallan Edition 3
48.3% ABV, Partnered with Master Perfumer Roja Dove to create aroma profile
Type: Scottish
Keywords: Scotch, Single Malt, Speyside, Whisky
Tasting Notes
- Nose: Strong cooked fruit (prunes and raisins), vanilla cream
- Taste: Sharper entry, spicy cloves, caramel underneath
- Finish: Sharpness continues relentlessly, cloves and ginger
Comments
The taste belies the ABV - very spicy!
The Macallan Classic Cut
58.4% ABV, Finished in Oloroso sherry casks from American & European Oak
Type: Scottish
Keywords: Scotch, Sherry Cask Finish, Single Malt, Whisky
Tasting Notes
- Nose: Soft caramel, vanilla, eucalyptus
- Taste: Medium body, chewy, nutmeg, caramel, spice hits hard
- Finish: The spice peaks and falls to a warm finish
Comments
This has the best of both worlds - soft entry and a sharp finish.
Highland Park 15 year
40% ABV
Type: Scottish
Keywords: Orkney, Peated, Scotch, Single Malt, Whisky
Tasting Notes
- Nose: Pineapple and light brown sugar
- Taste: Lighter body, honey, caramel, cream, cinnamon
- Finish: The cinnamon finish fades quickly
Comments
Impressive!
Highland Park Full Volume 18 year
47.2% ABV
Type: Scottish
Keywords: Bourbon Cask Finish, Orkney, Peated, Scotch, Single Malt, Whisky
Tasting Notes
- Nose: Molasses, lavender
- Taste: Thick body, silky entry, soft smoke, vanilla, citrus, a bit of pine
- Finish: Spicy up the nose, buttery
Comments
Pleasant smoke, I like this one a lot.
Final thoughts
In truth, when I sat down to write this post I didn’t know what shape it would take. It was when The Macallan and Highland Park showed me the pride they have in being who they are and doing what they do that resonated for me.
I write these posts week after week, and hope that you, Dear Reader, are entertained and informed in the process. And I can take pride in that.
I hope you like this review! If you've tried any of the expressions and have your own tasting notes, please leave a comment. Thanks!
Slainté! L’chaim! Cheers!
- Tammy
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