Malt Mission 2007 #218

Macallan Elegancia 12 yo
Speyside Single Malt Whisky
40% abv
£28
$55(USD)

Elegancia. Hmm... what could it mean? Is it Scots? Gaelic? Nope; Spanish... naturally.

I can tell you that while the environment where I consumed this whisky provided fun and laughs, grace and dignity were almost nowhere to be found. Indeed, 'elegant' would be an ill-fitting descriptor for the DFDS boat from Copenhagen to Oslo, lovingly refered to as "Danskebåten" by Kristin and her friends, but it sure can be an arseload of fun.

With the sun rising over a frosty Norwegian fjord's shoreline we sat next to a starbord window in pleather chairs. Surrounded by bus-loads of blue-hairs, the cheesiest versions of jazz standards were squeezed from the bar speakers. Yes, we fell well below the average age, but this whisky made me feel at least 50% less out-of-place. I don't know what that means, but it did.

Launched in 2002, Macallan Elegancia is a Duty Free exclusive matured in ex-Fino and Oloroso sherry casks. My friend MC posted me some back in 2005 in plastic contact lens case. Gotta love him for the thought and creative method, but it did taste a bit like petroleum when it arrived.

For other Macallan's had on the mission click HERE

TASTING NOTES:

Lots of oak, apples and cinnamon, marmalade, breakfast cereal (corn flakes?). Malty, oaky sweetness. Almonds, oranges, chocolate ice cream.

Gentle impact, sweet before gripping with oak. Toasty sherry characteristics with dried fruits before crême brulée and leather glove flavours.

SUMMARY:

Elegant indeed. Lighter than the standard (as opposed to the Fine Oak) Macallan range, but it has a delicate richness... if that is possible. Great nose, soft, clean and tasty with a short-ish finish.

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