1989 Cadenheads Macallan-Glenlivet 26 Year Old Cask Strength Single Malt Scotch Whisky (700ml)

Macallan without sherry? Yes, these bottlings can be great too. Macallan abandoned their 'nothing but sherry' policy a while ago. With or without it, the quality of spirit more often than not stands out. Cadenheads prove it with this unusual age statement. See the review below from Malt Maniac, Serge Valentin. (Serge recently reviewed his 15,000th whisky, so he should know what he's talking about!) We've just a few of the 162 bottles drawn from a single x Bourbon barrel. The price / age ratio speaks for itself. Comes non chill filtered.

Other reviews... A brand new one that reminds me of the times when we were getting as excited as cats whenever an unsherried Macallan was in sight. Agreed, quite the opposite these days ;-). Colour: pale gold. Nose: aaaah! This one’s as fresh and fruity as a 5 years old, but it’s just stunning because of the added complexity that only age, whichever the cask and its state, can bring to any whisky. That, you cannot replicate with more of that dreadful ‘wood technology’ that’s so en vogue these days beyond Hadrian’s wall. Mirabelles, quinces, apricots, soft vanilla, and this lovely wine that they make in the Pyreneans, called Jurançon moelleux. Mouth: Macallan totally au naturel, slightly rough, with pineapples, bananas, kiwis, and more mirabelles. Or say all those fruits macerated in good artisan kirsch. Let’s see what water does to it, just in the name of science (while the nose got rather maltier and almost bready)… Yeah, very malty, with a typical Macallan fatness, but I wouldn’t say it’s the best swimmer ever. It doesn’t need water anyway. Finish: long, fruity, barleyish. More oranges. Comments: going up again ;-). An extremely interesting – and good – ‘wild’ Macallan. 89 points - Serge Valentin, whiskyfun.com