The Macallan
The Speyside malt that made its name with sherry casks. Everything you need to know about the difference between Double Cask and Sherry Oak, the age statements, the taste and the glass to use for tasting it.
A Speyside malt that owes everything to its casks
The Macallan is a single malt whisky from Craigellachie in Speyside, the heart of Scotland’s whisky region. The distillery was founded in 1824 by Alexander Reid and was one of the first to receive an official licence. It is known for its strikingly small, curved stills, which produce a rich, oily spirit.
The secret lies in the wood. Macallan has its casks filled with sherry in Jerez, Spain, so the whisky absorbs notes of dried fruit, orange, spices and chocolate. Sherry Oak matures exclusively in European oak, while Double Cask combines European and American oak. In 2018, the brand opened a spectacular new distillery, tucked beneath a rolling grass roof.
In brief
What types of The Macallan are there?
Two ranges define the selection: Sherry Oak (European oak only) and Double Cask (European and American oak). Above those are Rare Cask and the limited editions.
Double Cask 12 Years
The entry-level bottle and the best-selling Macallan. Smooth and sweet: vanilla, honey, orange, and a hint of sherry.
Sherry Oak 12 Years
European oak from Jerez only. Fuller and darker than Double Cask: dried fruit, ginger, and chocolate.
Double Cask 15 Years
Three extra years of maturation and a little more strength. Richer and spicier, with caramel and dried fruit.
Double Cask 18 Years
Eighteen years in sherry casks: deep, rounded, and long, with burnt orange, plum, and spices.
Sherry Oak 18 Years
The house's icon and one of the world's most sought-after whiskies. Rich in sherry, dried fruit, and oak.
Rare Cask
A blend of rare sherry casks, selected for flavor rather than age. Intense and complex, in a luxury box.
Start with Double Cask 12: the gentlest introduction to the Macallan style.
Rich, rounded, and full of sherry
Dried fruit & orange
Raisins, figs, and orange peel, with vanilla and honey from the American oak in the Double Cask.
Full-bodied and sweet-spicy
Smooth and syrupy, with toffee, ginger, cinnamon, and dark chocolate. Hardly any smoke: Macallan is a sherry malt, not a peated whisky.
Long and warm
The spices and oak linger for a long time. The older the bottle, the longer and drier the finish.
Flavor profile of The Macallan Double Cask 12. Sherry Oak is darker and drier; the 18-year-olds are deeper and linger longer.
How to drink The Macallan
A whisky of this caliber should be enjoyed neat, from a glass that captures the aromas. Ice is fine with the 12-year-old; with the older bottles, it would be a shame.
Neat
Pour 30 ml into a tulip-shaped tasting glass, let it sit for a few minutes and smell with your mouth open. Take small sips and let the whisky roll over your tongue.
Glass: tasting glass →With a drop of water
A few drops of room-temperature water open up the whisky: the fruit and spices come forward and the alcohol becomes smoother. Especially with the 43% bottles.
Glass: tasting glass →On the rocks
Double Cask 12 over one large ice cube in a heavy tumbler. The ice makes it sweeter and fresher, but also mutes the aroma; save the 15- and 18-year-olds for drinking neat.
Glass: tumbler →Cocktails with The Macallan
Macallan is meant to be enjoyed neat, but Double Cask 12 comes surprisingly good in a classic stirred cocktail.
Old Fashioned
Whisky, a sugar cube, bitters and an orange zest over a large ice cube. Rich and fruity with Double Cask 12.
Godfather
Whisky and amaretto over ice, 2 to 1. Two ingredients that bring out the best in each other: sherry malt and almond.
Rusty Nail
Scotch and Drambuie over ice. Honey and spices complement Macallan's sherry sweetness.
All whisky cocktails
From Manhattan to Penicillin: all the whisky cocktails, paired with the right glass.The right glass for The Macallan
A tulip-shaped tasting glass for sipping neat and a heavy crystal tumbler for on the rocks or an Old Fashioned. These are the glasses we recommend ourselves.
Everything you've always wanted to know about The Macallan
Can't find your question? Browse our cocktail recipes or get in touch.
Go to the cocktail recipes →What percentage alcohol is The Macallan?
What's the difference between Macallan Double Cask and Sherry Oak?
Why is The Macallan so expensive?
What's the best way to drink The Macallan?
Is The Macallan smoky?
How do you store an opened bottle of The Macallan?
Buy Macallan
Want the bottle in your home right away? Order Macallan online at Gall & Gall. Gall & Gall has 17 in stock.
Prices as of November 6, 2026, as reported by Gall & Gall. You can see the current price and stock at Gall & Gall. Glazen.nl receives a small commission if you buy something through these links; you pay nothing extra. No 18, no alcohol.
