Here at Mark Littler Ltd, we are not ashamed to admit that we are very investment focused, both in our articles and our YouTube videos. It would be naive not to acknowledge that a very large portion of the market is filled by collectors and investors whose main focus is solely driven by the value potential of the whisky rather than just how well it drinks. Our content, our guides and videos, are a mechanism to educate people about the rarer and older bottles available in this investment setting that are often quite well priced compared to modern bottles.
However, we also recognise that the people who like drinking whisky are being priced out of the market. Collectors/flippers not only win the lion’s share of bottles on most ballots but they also drive the price of these bottles even higher as soon as they appear on the secondary market.
Whilst looking for a way to combine both our passion for writing about the collectible nature of whisky and also our love of drinking it, our Round Robin series was born. The series will hopefully enable us to restore some balance and open up the less accessible bottles to reviewers.
The concept behind the project is simple: we produce a history or guide about the particular bottle in question on our YouTube channel, and then we post the bottle to another creator to pour themselves a dram and review. They then sign the bottle and box and it gets posted to another reviewer who does the same. When there is only one dram left in the bottle it is returned to us to enjoy.
Future bottles set to be part of the series include bottles of Macallan 2018 Sherry Oak, a 1980s Yamazaki 12 Year Old, and a Midleton Very Rare 2021. These bottles are poised to be sent to those lucky enough to be part of the project with the Yamazaki already doing the rounds.
To kick start this series, we have first opened a bottle of Macallan Edition 6 and sent it off round some of the best whisky reviewers in the industry.
So let’s take a look at the ultimate Macallan Edition 6 review…
Macallan Edition 6 – No Nonsense Whisky Review
The first stop for the Macallan Edition 6 bottle was with Vin PF at No Nonsense Whisky on YouTube. Vin has been reviewing whisky on YouTube for five years and has built a substantial following on his channel.
As the first to receive the bottle, Vin had the pleasure of cracking the seal and pouring the first dram. Whilst he admits he’s not often a Macallan drinker, Vin does conclude his tasting by remarking that this is the first Macallan he has properly enjoyed! His tasting notes for the Edition 6 include cinnamon, ginger, and biscuit.
Check out the No Nonsense Whisky video for Vin’s full review.
Macallan Edition 6 – New Dram Drinkers Review
The Macallan then went over to Nicky and Anthony at New Dram Drinkers on YouTube. New Dram Drinkers began creating their review videos two years ago and their channel has been growing ever since.
Once they had received the bottle, Nicky and Anthony poured themselves a dram. Their review tackles everything from the bottle to the colour, the aroma and, of course, the taste. Their tasting notes contain spice, dried fruit, and warm oak amongst other things.
To hear their full review, here is the full New Dram Drinkers video
Macallan Edition 6 – The Malt Cask Review
After Nicky and Anthony had thoroughly reviewed the Edition 6, it was then passed on to The Malt Cask reviewer on Instagram. The Malt Cask was established in 2015 as both a blog and an instagram to review and enjoy whisky. From its beginning in 2015, The Malt Cask has gone on to create an audience of thousands, all whisky lovers alike.
The Review
Nose:
It’s very Macallan in my mind, reminds me a bit of the old 12, rich yet fresh, the sherry is definitely present, old wood, bee’s wax, chocolate coated raisins, hazelnuts, some citrus notes too, almond biscotti, nutmeg, a little leather, dried fruit and some dark cocoa powder. After a few minutes in the glass, it becomes creamier with some glacé cherries notes. Very good start!
Palate:
Sweet and spicy, quite rich and oily, raisins, caramel, slight ginger, bitter orange, walnuts, brown sugar, dark chocolate, some prune notes too, oak spice and a hint of pepper. Very moreish!
Finish:
Warming, long, old oak furniture, plums. Still a little ginger and some brown sugar, quite drying, dark cocoa and dried figs.
Nice, very nice!
With water:
Sweeter and creamier nose, moving from dark to milk chocolate, the palate however gains in spice with more ginger and so does the finish with a little more pepper and slight coriander vibe.
For me, it will be without!
I had only tried Edition 2 which I really enjoyed but this one is absolutely delicious too! Shame these have become collectors/investors bottles because I could drink way more of it!
Unfortunately, this is not my bottle so all I’ve got left to do is sign it and send it on its way for another review!
Macallan Edition 6 – WhiskyFun Review
From The Malt Cask, the Macallan Edition 6 then went on to Angus MacRaild at WhiskyFun. We feature WhiskyFun on our blog quite often as it is one of the most prominent whisky review sites in the industry. WhiskyFun was created by Serge Valentin in 2002 and has gone from strength to strength ever since, including being voted Most Influential Drinks Blog in 2009.
The Review
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.
Macallan Edition 6 – Top Whiskies Review
On the Macallan Edition 6 went, this time to Ed at Top Whiskies on Instagram. Top Whiskies was established in 2016 and Ed posts regular whisky reviews and distillery visits to a large audience. Top Whiskies also has an accompanying blog where they post more long form reviews and content.
The Review
Colour: Natural colour; bronzed gold. Coats my copita with tears that slowly sink down the side of the glass.
Nose: Complex yet structured. Notes of toffee apples, plums, peaches in syrup, orchard blossom, oak and vanilla. The alcohol is well integrated.
Palate: Medium mouthfeel. Vanilla fudge and more toffee apples. Ripe plums, dried oranges, and good quality milk chocolate. Oak from the casks with a touch of gentle wood spice. Again, the alcohol is well integrated with no burn.
Finish: Medium to long finish through rich fruit and fudge to end with a little warming wood spice.
Macallan Edition 6 Review – The World Of Whiskey UK Review
The Macallan Edition 6 stopped with Jordan at World of Whiskey UK on Instagram. Although World of Whiskey UK is relatively new, having been established in 2019, Jordan along with the best drinking buddies, his pet chinchillas, has already created a fantastic platform for reviewing whisky.
The Review
Excited is an understatement of how much I’ve been looking forward to reviewing this one!
This is the 6th and final release in The Macallan Edition series, with this expression being matured in a combination of American and European hogsheads and butts, before bottling at 48.6%, which takes inspiration from the incredible landscapes that surrounds The Macallan Estate, from the picture esc landscapes to the river spey that runs through the heart of the estate.
Nose: Sweet toffees with caramelised hazelnuts and pecan nuts are most prominent, followed by aromas of charred oak, freshly baked gingerbread cake, cinnamon spice, and ginger spice. Sweet caramel and vanilla pod aromas are in the mix, with a subtle note of ripe peaches.
Palette: Rich dark chocolate combines with toasted hazelnuts from the outset, evolving into flavours of honeycomb, toffee, caramel, and freshly ground coffee to add a slight bitterness. Cinnamon and ginger spice add some spice and warmth to the palette, with charred oak notes following from the nose.
Finish: Mid length finish, with final notes of cocoa powder that adds a slight bitterness, freshly roasted hazelnuts, nutmeg spice, and a final round off of charred oak to round off a delicious dram.
Macallan Edition 6 Review – Swedish Whisky Girl
The next stop for the Macallan Edition 6 was with Moa over at Swedish Whisky Girl on YouTube. Moa has been making videos on her channel since just 2020 and it is going from strength to strength as she reviews all kinds of drams.
Having received an already very signed bottle of Macallan, Moa takes us through the aromas and flavours of the Edition 6.
For the full review, here is Swedish Whisky Girl’s full review
Once the Macallan Edition 6 only has one dram left it will return to us here at Mark Littler Ltd, having been signed by all of these fantastic reviewers. Keep a look out for more round robin ultimate reviews!
Macallan Edition 6 Review – Worthington Photos Review
The final stop for the Macallan Edition 6 was over at Worthington Photos. Worthington Photos is on instagram and they post fantastic photos of all kinds of whisky bottles showcasing them in their full glory.
The Review
It’s everything you’d expect, speyside goodness with that distinctive Macallan touch
Nose: Rich fresh fruits, nutmeg, ginger, chocolate, toffee, vanilla, and oak.
Palate: Plum and sweet orange, cinnamon, nutmeg, balanced oak, toffee, and oats.
Finish: Long fresh fruit with spices turning to creamy chocolate and toasted oats.