The Macallan 15 Years Colour Collection

Medium intensity copper coloured with pronounced noses of malt, honey, citrus peel, stewed peach and touch of smoke. Water brings out some floral notes. It is dry with medium mouth warming alcohol, full bodied and medium acidity, oily mouthfeel. On palate it gives over medium intensity flavours of lemon, floral, oak, vanilla and nuttiness. Medium length with nutty finish. (91) Needs better length

 

Tasted on 5 January 2024 

酒香撲鼻，酒的風格保持着麥加侖的濃厚商業化風格，口感豐滿順喉，只是酒味在口中的強度不及酒香，而且落差頗大，餘韻合格，是一支以酒香取勝的酒品

The Macallan The Harmony Collection Rich Cacao

 Medium intensity copper colour with close to pronounced level aromas of malt, chocolate, ginger, cinnamon, toasted hay and touch of heady notes. Water dilutes everything. It is dry with medium acidity and alcohol, full bodied and round mouthfeel. On palate it gives medium intensity flavours of malt, honey, chocolate, ginger and touch of grainy. Slightly longer than medium length with honey malt finish. (92)

Tasted on 30 December 2021

可口，香氣很好，強烈而又跟足主題。酒在口中表現四平八穩，像是加了黑朱古力的威士忌。建議剩飲，別加水或冰。這酒再一次顯示麥卡侖對大眾口味的把握是何其精準，這酒的味道頗大眾化，但除了多了點朱古力特色之外，跟一枝十二年的威士忌沒有大分別。

The Macallan Edition No. 6

This malt whisky has medium copper colour and pronounced noses of grain, smoke, orange, cinnamon and touch of citrus peel. Water brings out some honey notes. Dry with medium acidity, medium mellow alcohol and bodied. On palate it has medium intensity flavours of honey, lemon and traces of caramel, apricot and ginger. Longer than medium length with honey lemon finish. (91) Round and decent.

 

Tasted on 16 April 2021

公整圓潤的威士忌，十分商業化的產品，口味十分大眾化的，酒力算強，餘韻合格有餘。酒的複雜性也算合格，也可以算混桶很成功的酒，但也沒什麼特別的風格可以指出。

1988 30 years old Blended Malt Whisky (知天命系列 Macallan Spoon Cask)

A dry whisky with medium gold colour and quite pronounced noses of honey, citrus peel, sweet malt, ginger and trace of seaweed and peat. Water brings out floral notes. It is dry with medium acidity, medium integrated alcohol and full bodied. The palate has medium plus intensity with honey and smoky peat type flavours. Fairly long length with smoky and honey finish. (92) Smooth but a bit straight forward on palate.


Tasted on 9 April 2020

 

酒香很好，香氣範圍廣泛，有一定強度，很正路的麥卡倫風格。 奇怪的是，酒在口中的表現有點簡單，餘韻算長。這酒聞比喝好得多了。但不像咁0年的老機麥。

 

The Macallan Edition No. 1

Medium gold coloured with quite intense noses of lemon, sweet vanilla, cinnamon, smoke and touch of orange peel. Water brings out floral notes. Dry with medium acidity, medium integrated alcohol, quite full bodied. On palate it gives medium intensity flavours of lemon, honey, ginger, orange, vanilla spice. Medium length with lemon and ginger finish. (91) Pretty spicy.


Tasted on 12 April 2019


香料味很足夠的。酒有一定強度和複雜性，但不可以出色來形容。這酒表現出麥卡倫在捕捉市場口味方面的功力。嚴格說這酒並不感覺到任務特別風格，四四正正，桶味較突出一點，口中表現也是中中等等。唔通將貨就價? 但好像已經炒起了。

Macallan1861 Replica Single Malt Whisky

This whisky has medium gold colour and quite high intensity noses of sweet malt, toast, caramel, apricot, smoke and ginger. Water brings our floral notes. It is dry with medium acidity and integrated alcohol. Quite full bodied with longer than medium length and honey finish. The flavour intensity is over medium with flavours of honey, lemon, caramel, orange, malt and toast. (92) Good complexity and smooth.


Tasted on 29 March 2019

這版本的麥卡倫比較有風格。酒的複雜性及強度也好，餘韻亦長，酒的口感醇厚，不嗆口，酒味保持著強度，只是複雜性不及酒香，但仍不錯，好喝。

The Macallan Concept No. 1 (2018)

This whisky has medium gold colour. On nose it has quite high intensity aromas of sweet malt, honey, smoke, cinnamon and trace of toast. Water brings out tropical fruit notes. Dry with medium acidity, quite full bodied with medium alcohol. On palate it has over medium intensity flavours of lemon, peach, caramel, smoke and vanilla. Medium length with honey citrus finish. (91)


Tasted pm 24 February 2019

很商業化的感覺。中等的表現，果甜味及桶味的平衡，中等的酒精度數及略帶重身的酒體，全是大路的酒款設定。正路，但沒什麼風格。我不是說它品質差，只是沒有特色吧了。

The Macallan Edition No. 4

Medium copper in colour. On nose it gives medium intensity aromas of sweet malt, honey, toasted spice and trace of tangerine, peat and smoke. Water drings out dried fruite notes. It is dry with medium acidity, medium smooth alcohol, quite full bodied with trace of wood tannin. It also has over medium intensity flavours and length. The flavours contain lemon, ginger, dates and touch of hoeny, smoke and pear. Honey ginger finish too. (92) Subtle fruit with responsible complexity. Commercial as usual.


Tasted on 2 November 2018

合理的複雜度，適中的強度和餘韻，四四正正的一枝符合大眾口味的威士忌。MALT MASTER應記一功。整枝酒很大路，另一個角度即是沒什麼風格，頗易入口，加冰剩飲也不錯，輕鬆的。

Macallan Estate Reserve Single Malt Whisky

This whisky has medium intensity copper colour. On nose it has quite pronounced aromas of dried peach, toasted malt, cinnamon, vanilla and stewed lemon. Water brings out some floral notes. It is dry with medium integrated alcohol, quite full bodied with medium acidity, smooth mouthfeel. On palate it has medium intensity flavour of lemon jam, ginger, vanilla, and touch of licorice. Longer than medium length with lemon peel finish. (91)


Tasted on 16 February 2018


這酒的整體平衡性不錯，不太重煙燻味，像烤麥的。酒的香氣強而複雜，口感柔和，酒味在口中複雜性不錯，只是強度下降了些，餘韻亦合格有餘，很不錯。麥卡侖這一系列的酒平衡感很好，很大路，很討好的，好飲。

The Macallan Edition No. 3

Medium gold in colour. The aromas intensity is quite intense with malt, honey, ginger, caramel, vanilla and touch of nutmeg. Water enhances its malty aromas. It is dry with medium acidity, quite high and integrated alcohol, full bodied too. On palate, it has quite high intensity flavours of malt, vanilla, ginger and honey. Longer than medium length with grainy and honey finish. (91)


Tasted on 18 December 2017


酒的風格較之前的 Edition No. 2 硬朗，酒香算不錯，有一定複雜性，酒精感強而酒味簡單了點，餘韻亦算合格有餘，整體不錯，但不像其他一些麥卡倫產品般有人見人愛的感覺。

1990 Mackillop's Choice Macallan Signle Cask Whisky

Medium gold coloured single malt whisky with quite intense aromas of honey, toasted malt, cinnamon, dried hay, peat smoke, and touch of citrus peel. Water brings out touch of floral notes. Dry with medium acidity, medium integrated alcohol, medium bodied and some wood tannin. Smooth mouthfeel. On palate it has over medium intensity flavours of honey, lemon, licorice and ginger. Fairly long length with honey and malty finish. (92)


Tasted on 13 July 2017

像一些舊一點的麥卡倫，果味不及木桶的強，較猛較烈的感覺。酒香複雜性不錯，餘韻算長，幾好飲，但喜歡較多果味的可能失望。

The Macallan Edition No. 2

Medium copper coloured with quite high intensity noses of malt, honey, roasted nut, orange peel and touch of peat and cinnamon. Water brings out floral and grainy notes. It is dry with medium acidity, well integrated medium alcohol and quite full bodied. A trace of wood tannin is detected with fairly high intensity flavours of honey, grain, bitter almond and touch of peat. Fairly long length with honey and malty finish. (93) Good oak work


Tasted on 1 January 2017

完全感受到這酒從木桶中提取了很多味道出來。酒的香氣和酒味都是中上的，餘韻亦算長。酒的味道偏重的方向，較濃和偏向香料味，但仍有著麥卡倫那種四四正正的平衡感，不錯。

Macallan The Whisky Trail

A medium intensity copper coloured whisky with close to pronounced nose of honey, citrus peel, lemon, nutmeg, vanilla, apricot and touch of ginger. Water enahnces ginger and brings out tropical fruit note. It is dry with medium acidity, alcohol and quite full bodied. On palate it has quite high intensity flavours of lemon peel, honey, apricot, vanilla and ginger. Long length with honey and ginger finish. (92)


Tasted on 2 December 2016


 酒香很好，加點點水亦有驚喜。酒在口中的醇厚感低了些，餘韻長而帶點複雜性，很不錯。只是酒味在口中的複雜性下降了些。整體來說仍貫徹著麥卡倫的風格，四四正正的。

Macallan 21 Years Old Single Malt Whisky

Medium amber colour with quite pronounced aromas of honey, toasted vanilla, lemon jam, caramel and touch of peat and almond. Water brings out floral and pineapple notes. Dry with medium acidity, full bodied and  a touch of high alcohol sense. Over medium intensity flavours of honey, peach, vanilla and caramel. Longer than medium length with honey vanilla finish. Rich and well integrated.


Tasted on 16 September 2016


麥卡倫的酒沒有什麼特別的性格，但在口感中也沒有什麼特別可挑剔的。酒香及酒味都不錯，餘韻亦長。在任何一方面也是中上水平。要彈的可能是複雜性可以再多點。酒的口感豐滿圓潤，整體平衡很好。但又可以說沒有獨特的風格。可口的酒，靜靜品嚐很不錯。

1977 Macallan Single Cask Single Malt Whisky (by Douglas Laing's)

A medium gold coloured single malt whisky with quite high noses of roasted grain, lemon peel, cinnamon, vanilla, honey and touch of caramel. Water enhances its honey note. Dry with medium acidity, quite high warming alcohol and quite full bodied. The flavour intensity is over medium with honey, malt, lemon peel, vanilla, cinnamon and touch of coffee. Fairly long length with lemon and spicy finsih. (92)


Tasted on 14 July 2016


酒的強度不錯，複雜性有點點不足，令到酒精感突出了點點。酒在口中的成熟感反而更明顯，餘韻算長。以品質來說尚算符合一枝三十多年的威士忌，但用這價錢則有很多比它更好的選擇。

1993 Macallan Speymalt Single Malt Whisky

Medium gold colour with slightly higher than medium intensity aromas of honey, toast, hay, malt and touch of raisin and cooked apple. Water dilutes the aromas. It is dry with medium acidity and warming alcohol, soft mouthfeel though. The flavour intensity is over medium with flavours of malt, smoke, hay, floral, stewed apple and touch of chocolate. Fairly long length with malty and honey finish. (91)


Tasted on 30 September 2014


麥卡倫的酒時常在聞時都較隱約，飲時才多一點風格及給人驚喜。這酒香氣不錯，但直飲會比加冰好。酒香的強度和複雜性也不錯，酒味在口中表現比聞稍好，餘韻亦算長，亦有一定陳年感，幾好飲的一枝老威。

Macallan Thirties Single Malt Whisky

Medium gold with copper tinge whisky. On nose it gives pronounced aromas of malt barley, peat, honey, caramel and touch of cheese and citrus. Water enhances its smokiness and fruitiness. It is off dry with medium integrated alcohol. Quite full bodied with medium acidity. Medium intensity flavours of honey, peat, malt, caramel and sweet vanilla. Fairly long length with honey finish. (93)
Good rancio character but a little bit weak on palate.


Tasted on 19 October 2013

一枝麥卡倫嘗試防製他們30年代的酒的威士忌，酒香出眾，展現了一定的陳年特性，可是在口中酒味差了點。餘韻亦長，不錯。

參觀威士忌蒸餾廠(二) - Macallan

第二間係出名的蒸餾廠 Macallan。呢個品牌我相信很多人都熟識，由於在室內地方唔準影相（除了在試酒室），所以只有在室外及試酒室影返夠本。

歷史

於 1824 年成立的 Macallan 是其中一間最早獲得牌照運作的蒸餾廠。由一個種麥的教師 Alexander Reid 建立。Macallan 呢個名根據官方網站係由 Magh 及 Ellan 兩個字組成。Magh 係解一片肥沃的土地而 Ellan 乃 St. Fillan，一位在八世紀時蘇格蘭傳教的修士的名字。酒廠於 1868 年被 James Stuart 買下，並於 1892 年轉手至 Roderick Kemp，他被認為是將 Macallan 發揚光大的人。1909 年 Kemp 死後，酒廠由其後人以家族基金形式運作。經過數十年營運後，Highland Distillers PLC 於1996 至 99 年間成為了大股東，但其位置卻於 1999 年後被 Edrington Group 取代。

生產

Macallan 一直堅持他們的生產哲學是來自六大支柱：第一個是他們精神上的家園（Spiritual Home），亦即是大家在酒標上見到的一間小屋（見下圖）。這小屋其實大有名堂的，叫做 East Elchies House，於 1700 年建成，比酒廠的歷史還早。這小屋由 Captain John Grant 建立，他的孫子於 1759 年把它賣了給 Seafield 的伯爵，之後才在 1868 年由 James Stuart 買下，而到 1961 年才由 Macallan 酒廠持有。此小屋翻修及擴建後於 1985 年重開。由於他的歷史價值，而成為了酒廠的標誌物，以下是實物的樣子：

第二個支柱是他們用的小蒸餾壼，其大小是同區（Speyside）內最細的。這樣會令酒與銅的接觸比例提高，而令至酒味較豐富。酒廠共有14個這類蒸餾壼，每個可載約 3900 公升。如果你留意蘇格蘭銀行 10 英鎊紙幣背面，便會看到這細小的蒸餾壺了。

第三個支柱是他們截取新酒的部位，即是所謂的 Cut。Macallan 在截酒方面只截取最優質的部份，只佔整體的 16%，可以是數一數二的小。收集酒精的含量是69.8%，所有其後的產品就是以此量少精純的新酒做成。

第四個支柱相信大家亦會估到了，就是他們木桶的使用。他們會四出找尋優質木桶作陳年之用。常用的包括：西班牙橡木雪利酒桶（Spanish oak sherry cask）、美國橡木雪利酒桶（American oak sherry cask）及美國橡木波班酒桶（American oak bourbon cask）。所以他們有隻酒叫三桶熟成（Triple cask maturation）。

在參觀時他們進一步解釋他們的木桶使用。Macallan 是小數由橡樹開始已經監控他們的木桶來源的酒廠。他們會派人去選購及製造新木桶，之後把新木桶交給雪利酒莊去儲存雪利酒，幾年後才把木桶收回來存放他們的新酒。這樣便可更加保證他們木桶的質量。另外，當酒桶已經不能再作威士忌後，他們會把木桶用作裝水。他們認為先讓水與木桶內殘餘的酒作「溝通」，之後做出來的威士忌會更好。所以他們有一個很大的倉庫存著一桶桶的水。

第五支柱是他們的自然酒色。他們不會在入樽時加色。所有酒的顏色都是來自木桶。最後支柱我個人覺得最「利害」，就是他們的團隊。他們每年會試不同的樣本以達致一致的品質，果然係一份好工。

Macallan 的產量非常驚人。他們會把製成的酒混好後用好像運油車的大貨車運往他們的入樽廠。這入樽廠之大可說是數一數二，每分鐘入酒 600支，一日二十四小時，一年三百六十五日不停運作。

參觀完當然要試酒啦！酒廠安排了我們在 East Elchies House 試酒，一共有 6 個Sample（見下圖）。最左的是剛蒸餾完的新酒，所以是透明無色的。最右的兩杯是 Oscuro 及 1842 Limited Release。

East Elchies House 的試酒室藏著很多年份的威士忌，有些仲很有紀念價值的。