When it comes to whiskies, older is oftentimes better, but one of the top distilleries in the world tells us that this is not always the case.
Enter The Macallan, and one of its limited offerings—the Rare Cask. Featuring a special blend defined not by the time it spent in the distillation process but by the whisky and the process themselves, the Rare Cask has no number labels on its bottle. Instead, it lures drinkers with the craftsmanship and quality behind it.
Bob Dalgarno, the Whisky Master at The Macallan, is the genius behind this special creation process. What sets the Rare Cask apart is the aging process that the distillery employs—combining Spanish and American sherry seasoned oak casks to come up with one of the finest single malt whiskies in the world. A team led by the master goes to Spain to carefully handpick the oak casks, which are then matured for 18 months before being dried and sent back to The Macallan’s home, Scotland. They do a series of samplings before bottling the batches that pass their scrutiny. It’s a meticulous five-year process centered on the wood and the maturation method.
The result? A beautiful whisky blend showcasing a deep mahogany hue and a complex flavor. I was one of the first lucky ones who got to try the Rare Cask when it debuted in Manila last month at Blackbird. Soft notes of vanilla greet you upon first sniff, and sipping into it gives you a bold, spicy taste—followed by a woody and chocolatey combination, then ending with a light citrusy finish. It was like drinking a dessert sans the sugar overload.
At 20 proof, the Rare Cask is best served neat, but you can also enjoy it with a splash of water or with an ice ball. During the launch, we also tried The Macallan Sherry Oak (12 Years) and The Macallan Fine Oak (15 Years), but it was really the Rare Cask that stole the show. Not even my favorite whisky cocktails—the old-fashioned and the whisky sour—was able to distract me from savoring that precious mahogany liquid. Once you have tasted it, it might be difficult to find delight in other variants and other brands.
The Rare Cask comes in a stunningly sculpted, heavy glass decanter, reflecting the grandeur and royalty that The Macallan is known for. It is now available at selected establishments and bars in Manila.
All photos without the Pepe Samson watermark are owned by The Macallan.
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