Macallan Edition No.6 48.6% NV

Professional reviews

BOW (88)

Serge Valentin (85)

Angus MacRaild:

Created to 'pay homage' to the landscape around the distillery and the River Spey apparently, and done in collaboration with a fly fishing company called Hardy. I have to say, all these 'stories' on Macallan bottles smell funny to me, but at the same time I also have a big soft spot for whisky that ties into nature - even tenuously. So I will admit to a little cognitive dissonance here. Colour: deep gold. Nose: modern, rather peppery and slightly varnish-tinged sherry. So a little closed and with an acetic sharpness at first. However, this opens nicely with time and we're into quite pleasurable tobacco and leaf mulch territories. Some sultana, praline and coffee too. Quite reminiscent of the old OB 12 yo in some ways. I find the nose simple but very attractive. Mouth: good arrival, nice power, the ABV does some fine work here. Chocolate, tobacco, wet leaves, damp earth, walnuts - all very classical, typical and easy. You may add sultanas once again, and some nicely bitter Seville marmalade. Finish: good length, warming, gingerbread, dark fruits and a little touch of hessian and earthiness. Comments: Pretty hard to see how anyone who enjoys classical sherried Macallan wouldn't enjoy sipping this. I still think it would be more interesting with an age statement, in my humble opinion.

OTHER (86)

Nose: Plenty of prunes, caramel and toffee, with some rum raisins and gentle notes of cocoa powder. Also a hint of fresh linen with macadamia nuts, accompanied by subtle wood spices and a somewhat unpleasant note of copper coins.
Taste: Active oak for sure. A spicy arrival with black pepper and cinnamon, balanced by sultanas and walnut skin, as well as fudge, cocoa powder and a whisper of aniseed. Hints of burnt toast as well as weak coffee.
Finish: Medium in length with lingering spices and fudge, as well as milk chocolate.

Score: 86

Quite a dark whisky that relies a little too much on the oak. It’s just a style of maturation that doesn’t exactly match my personal preference, but it’s undeniably decent stuff on the other hand.