Welcome back to Old, Rare, & Open. The next old and rare bottling up for tasting is this Macallan-Glenlivet 18 Year Old Cadenheads, with tasting notes provided by Whisky Wednesday’s Phil Dwyer.
Read last week’s tasting notes on a rare Bunnahabhain Signatory Vintage here.
The entry of a full bottle of this Macallan-Glenlivet 18 Year Old in an auction would excite whisky fanatics around the globe, as this 54.9% ABV bottle is extremely scarce. In fact, there is no record of a full-sized bottle being sold at auction. The Cadenhead dumpies are very highly sought-after, not least ones hailing from Macallan.
Serge Valentin at WhiskyFun is a particularly huge fan of this whisky, awarding it an astonishing 95 points upon tasting in 2009. In his comments section of the tasting notes Serge said: “[t]his is why we’re into whisky. This kind of thing happens only once or twice a year. […] Congrats to the Cadenhead people who, around 1985, decided to buy/bottle/issue this (whatever), they deserve the Légion d’Honneur.”
Review by Phil Dwyer of Whisky Wednesday:
“Macallan-Glenlivet 18 Year Old Cadenheads, 54.9% ABV
Colour – Coca-Cola
Nose – That’s deep! Actual coca-cola, anjelica root, lemongrass, lemon rind, super dry sherry, fizzy cola bottle sweets, hessian cloth, brioche, brown butter. It isn’t a ‘Christmas’ style of sherry, it’s sweet but has a very bright style to it, but you do still get that dry peanut smell from oloroso. I take it back, the longer it’s in the glass, the more Christmas laiden it becomes, there’s so much raisin and fruit and nut mix now. The alcohol does become very pungent if you stick your nose too deep into the glass.
Palate – Well, you can see why so many people like Glendronach 18YO who have been drinking sherried whisky for decades. This is a super throwback, every type of marinated dried fruit, loads of drying nutty flavours, and dark chocolate galore. This is just cask strength sherry in it’s most literal form. There are some darker/bitter notes towards the end, and the alcohol pops up much more, but it’s all still very complimentary. Very thick and chewy if you let it sit on your palate for a few minutes.
Finish – Dark roasted coffee and lemon. Imagine the best espresso you’ve ever had, garnished with a little lemon peel/oil. It has weight and intensity, but some incredible lightness to it as well.
Verdict – A big sherry hitter with a lot to say. 90/100.”
