Macallan Select Oak

Whisky: The Macallan Select Oak NAS, 40%
£45 ≈ R515

The Macallan 1824 Collection was released in 2009 exclusively for Travel Retail (duty-free). The range consists of four NAS whiskies: Select Oak, Whisky Maker’s Edition, Estate Reserve, and the 1824 Limited Release decanter. Unusual names for a range of whiskies, but according to the packaging, each expression is meant to tell a story about The Macallan’s history. Points for originality. This expression is matured in both American and Spanish oak casks.

Nose: Gentle and caressing. Soft vanilla sweetness and mild toasted oak. A suggestion of spice.

Taste: The packaging says extraordinarily smooth, and I can’t deny it. This may be the easiest whisky to drink I’ve ever tried. It does have a presence, but every millimeter of it is ethereal.

Finish: The spice resurfaces with a little more intensity, and it’s a good thing too; else it would be easy to forget you’ve just had a drink. The liquid then fades slowly and gently, just as it entered.

My Score: 80

This is an understated drink if there ever was one. The entire experience is soft and gentle as if it were an exercise in delicacy. I think it lacks in flavor on the palette, but it seems to do so consciously and thus is not worse-off for it. In fact, it is unique for it.

Scores: JH 85