Notes: The Highlands have a few different sub regions and styles- this one is considered a Speyside by location and style/profile. Macallan uses smaller pot stills that are directly fired (read fire under the still- not steam coils or jackets) and slow distillation to make it’s whisky. This is also probably one of the few whiskies left that used 100% Golden Promise barley (a more expensive, lower yield, barley but resulting greater weight and taste to the malt) and five different yeast strains – a practice that stopped in the mid 1990’s, making such Macallan Whiskies an endangered species that should be hunted to extinction by those who care about such things.

As Macallan produced a lot of whisky over the years before the popularity and sales of their single malts caught up with production, in earlier years they sold some of their casks to independent bottlers. These bottlers stored and aged whisky on their own and released it when they felt it was ready.

Alexander Murray and Company is a relatively large independent bottler and has supplied a number of chains with good to excellent whiskies at discount prices that the original distillers could not match. While this is a fairly new concept to brand driven Americans, it is a quite old and honored concept among Britons and also single-malt aficionados from all over the world. It was just not seen much here except for high end specialty shops. Sam’s Club, Costco and Trader Joe’s are now bringing this idea to the United States and have been for a few years with various offerings from different distillers and bottlers.

Appearance: Pleasing gold amber, nice edge line on the glass when you swirl it, smooth layer of whiskey on swirling.

First Impression: Medium peat smoke, honey, leather, sherry malt/toffee, pepper, and oak.

Taste: Nice oily/slightly fatty feel to the malt. Medium-weight mouth feel (for a scotch) Nice layers of oakiness, leather, candied nuts and spice, and a touch of sweetness then malt and heather. Finish is dryish with some sweet notes, citrus, oak, spice, minerals, a little pepper.

Drinks: Decent spirits glass (Riedel or better yet Celtic Malts Spirits Glass) glass only use in a cocktail that is subtle and well proportioned – you will want to appreciate the Scotch – not drown it.

Cigars: Yes, but something light – try a Natural Wrapper or Connecticut Shade Ashton maybe?

Bottle: Clear glass- shows whisky to good effect. Shape and style of bottle very similar to the regular Macallan bottle (with a different label of course). Black/gray neck foil,real cork closure.

Final Thoughts: Nice complexity and layers of flavors , A excellent choice for a good single malt in general and great deal for a 19 year-old Macallan – makes it worth renewing that Sam’s Club subscription. If you are looking for a very nice Fathers Day gift (or any other occasion), I’m sure this would be very well received.

Web site: http://www.glentaite.com

Slightly longer than a shelf talker. Best suggestion is to google Glen Taite and look at some of the other reviews on line such at theTastings.com site or whiskyguild forums for more (positive all) opinions.