Macallan 25 y/o - 1979 - Silver Seal - 50%
Photo taken somwhere in Stuttgart
Some things don't need an introduction. That is the case with this humble bottling. Just to mention, that Silver Seal is a highly reputated italian, independent bottler company, which have been supplying whisky and rum single casks since 1979. We are not really convinced by the modern core range of Macallan, due to their price policy and average quality, but the old stuff is said to be stellar. Enough talk.
Nose
The first breath brings us gentle and elegant whiffs of hazelnuts, oxygen, fresh paint strokes on a frame, such as old strawberry and blackberry marmelade. Obviously sherry in there. Under the surface we get deeper notes of tobacco leaves from Habanna and wet soil. Yes, it has earthy note and remotly reminds us of some old demerera rum. There is also a slight salinity in there. Very elegant stuff. Let's give it some drops of water (easy does it!): More sweetness now, the marmelade becomes a bit more pronounced, with the earthiness hiding in the background and some violets passing by.
Palate
Super sweet first impression, with a very rounded and oily texture. The cask has done it's job over the years. We get dark honey, hazelnuts and one blackberry. It is not really complex, but extremely well balanced and silky. They must have used a refill sherry cask, because there are no harsh wood flavours, neither a strong bitterness, even after 25 years. With water: Drinkable like morning juice now. Where is the alcohol?
Finish
Really long and dry, coating the whole palate, with hazelnuts and a few drops of grapefruit and bergamotte oil. Just lovely.
Rating
Well, this is definitely one of the better Macallans out there. The gentle and subtile nose is definitely a treat and a very interesting experience. As Whisky Digest is not the right platform, we won't speculate about the price and scarcity value of that bottling here. Sure this is not one of the legendary old Macallan Sherry monsters, but a very good, old school Speysider, close to some old OB Glenfarclas. Thousand thanks to O. Tony from bella Italia for providing us with a sample!
