Review – Macallan 18 Years Old 1996 43% Sherry Oak

Drink Macallan whisky in Singapore

This dram of Macallan 18 Years Old 1996 43% Sherry Oak was drunk at The Auld Alliance located at The Rendezvous Hotel, 9 Bras Basah Rd, #02-02A Rendezvous Hotel, Singapore 189559. 

What does Macallan whisky taste like? This Macallan 18 Years Old 1996 43% Sherry Oak bottling tastes like:

Nose: caramel, sweet rubber, light oloroso acridity, rich grapey character, mild hichew sugary tones

Palate: prominent oaky and sweet grape, light fumey rubber, sweet yet bitter, dry green grapes

What do we think of this bottle of Macallan whisky?

A fantastic find in the Auld Alliance given the older sherry profile and lack of modern acerbic notes. What we believe the old timers who fell in love with OB Macallan bottles chase and are now disappointed by.

Where can you get Macallan whisky by the glass in Singapore?

You can buy Macallan whisky by the dram from The Swan Song, such as the Adelphi Macallan 17 Years Old 1993 53.7% Selection or the C&S Dram Collection Macallan 13 Years Old 1997 55.1%.

Other Macallan 18 Years Old 1996 43% Sherry Oak Reviews

Check out this Whiskybase listing of the Macallan 18 Years Old 1996 43% Sherry Oak, where we rated the bottle 86 points!

Serge from WhiskyFun rated this bottle 87 points. 

Why is Macallan whisky so expensive?

One can posit that the Macallan lineup of whiskies is so expensive due to how extensively it has been marketed as a premium product compared to other Speyside or Highland whiskies. Given how Macallan is positioned in many premium nightclubs and bars in Singapore as a topline item, the inflated pricing gives an image of luxury that befits individuals who are spending there. Even better, Macallan has invested much resources in higher end brand activations, such as their bicentenary event held in Singapore, The Heart of the Spirit Experience.

Is Macallan whisky worth the money?

Our personal opinion would be that modern Macallan whiskies are not worth the money as drinking liquors. As investment assets, modern Macallan releases may be worthwhile per bottle, given their high trading value at auctions or between private collectors. Vintage Macallan bottlings, especially those distilled in the 1960s or prior, hold contemporary value as they present Macallan in arguably their best sherried profiles. In fact, 1940s Macallan could hold the most value as, hearsay, they could be the last peated sherried Macallan bottlings left on the planet! This was due to the use of peat in the place of coal for drying the malt post-World War 2! 

Which is better, Macallan or Glenfiddich?

Comparing apples to apples, our palate dictates that Macallan sherries across the vintages tend to blow the older Glenfiddich stocks away. Some may find Glenfiddich smoother (which is code for lacking in flavour among connoisseurs) compared to the standard Macallan. That, and Glenfiddich bottles are a lot more affordable! As far as buying a dram of whisky goes, we suggest getting a good dram of vintage sherried Macallan.