Ah, Macallan - the name epitomizes excellence not just in Scotch, but in the entire whisky world.

Macallan - one of the first legal distilleries in Scotland and founded in 1824 - was also one of the first companies to take the single malt category seriously. Macallan quickly became synonymous with quality, the best of the best.

Was it? I can’t say. I haven’t had Macallan - excuse me, The Macallan - from before the mid-90s. And yes, the “The” makes a difference. I got the chance to ask Mark Gillespie of WhiskyCast to dive into that on his “behind the label” segment, and the answer is both obvious and fascinating.

Exclusivity and money. Macallan was and is far from the only distillery in the area to use “The” to distinguish what actually came from and was produced by the distillery and what wasn’t (or was distilled by them but produced/bottled by someone else). Other examples include The Glenlivet, The Glendronach, The Balvenie, and the list goes on.

So what about those bottles that say “Macallan-Glenlivet” or “Glenlivet-Macallan”? Well, those might still be from one or both of those distilleries, but it’s not officially bottled by them. Some are from independent bottlers, which will say “distilled at the Macallan Distillery” on the label.

Understandably, though, most consumers might not know the difference. In earlier times, blenders and bottlers would take advantage of that confusion, and so the “The” was added as a mark that this liquid was an “official” bottling, authorized and produced by the distillery claiming its name.

Back to this bottling - The Macallan 18, whether the triple cask version or the fine oak version, is a status bottle. It is to single malts what Johnnie Walker Blue Label is to blends - something even non-whisky drinkers recognize as a celebratory pour or at minimum something worth drinking. Thankfully, the 18 does us whisky drinkers proud.

It’s a smooth, sherry-forward, easy drinker of elegance and style. It won’t overpower your palate, it’s sweet and not too spicy, full bodied and rich - everything you look for in a special occasion whisky to be shared with friends and colleagues.

It’s a bit overpriced for my liking, but that’s Macallan. The brand - and by extension its owner, Edrington Group - know the cache the Macallan name holds, and as consumers we pay that premium at the counter. That’s not to say I won’t buy a bottle now and again - celebrations are celebrations, after all.

The Macallan 18 Year Old Single Malt Whisky: Specs

Classification: Speyside Single Malt Whiskey

Origin: Macallan Distillery

Mashbill: 100% Malted Barley

Proof: 86 (43% ABV)

Age: 18 Years Old

Location: Speyside, Scotland

The Macallan 18 Year Old Single Malt Whisky Price: $350

Official Website

The Macallan 18 Year Old Single Malt Whisky Review: Tasting Notes

Eye: Maple syrup, viscous in the glass. Medium rims and syrupy legs.

Nose: Christmas cake - sherried raisins, beautiful sherry all around. Not much nuttiness, but full-bodied and sweet on the nose. Smells decadent and elegant.

Palate: Fruitcake, slightly oaky and astringent, sultanas and oloroso spice and fullness. Some eucalyptus on the back end. This is really elegant. Mouthfeel is medium-bodied, filling without being coating, with a light clove spice on the tongue. Tobacco and sweet cigar smoke dipped in Manuka honey.

Finish: The Ricola honey-eucalyptus pairing is sweet and rich, intriguing on a medium length finish. More coating here than on the palate. Sherried sultanas close out a great pour.

Overall: This is quintessential Macallan. Aside from the price point, there’s not much I can say against this. It’s elegant, sherried, rich, and Christmas-y.

Final Rating: 7.2

10 | Insurpassable | Nothing Else Comes Close (Elijah Craig Barrel Proof Old Label Batch 4 or 2, Blanton’s Straight from the Barrel)

9 | Incredible | Extraordinary (GTS, Elijah Craig Barrel Proof B518 and B520)

8 | Excellent | Exceptional (Stagg Jr. Batch 10, Highland Park Single Barrels)

7 | Great | Well above average (Blanton’s Original, Old Weller Antique, Booker’s)

6 | Very Good | Better than average (Four Roses Small Batch Select, Knob Creek 14+ YO Picks)

5 | Good | Good, solid, ordinary (Elijah Craig Small Batch, Buffalo Trace, Old Grand-Dad Bottled-in-Bond)

4 | Has promise but needs work

1-3 | Let’s have a conversation