Macallan Gold, 12 Year Old and 15 Year Old Single Malt Scotch Whisky Comparison Review

[@sweeneytod1]

I think this video nails it. There are lots of good whiskies available in the off-license and the supermarket but once you have tried the less popular brands you will never go back. You develop a taste and that is what it is all about. The next thing as you say is the price. If you can get a 10/10 whisky that is affordable then you have indeed found The Grail.

[@TheGrailTastings]

Well said!

[@BlueyChandler]

I enjoy listening to the banter between these two ladies after a few red wines and their interpretations of whiskey's of which I know very little.

[@alexrtsimpson]

People who drive range rovers and wear expensive watches that have walked past the whisky in airports a few times tell me this is the best whisky.

[@jeffreysparbeck7725]

That’s the type

[@peatbull3426]

I guess this ppl have no taste 😅

[@TheGrailTastings]

😂 totally!

[@bdwilcox]

Sooooo SPOT ON!

[@craigbutler623]

I have a land rover, not a range rover, and some macallans are ok! The green box one at the duty free is quite good!

[@TJO1913]

Another entertaining review. Played your Glenmorangie 10 video to my tasting group last night. We were exploring budget friendly, Highland single malts (Glenmorangie 10, Deanston Virgin Oak, Glenglassaugh Evolution & Loch Lomond 12) and everyone thoroughly enjoyed your take on it, even though they couldn't understand all of the conversation and the subtitles were of little help😉.

[@TheGrailTastings]

Aw thanks, so glad they enjoyed it! Sorry the subtitles weren't more use! Hopefully they gave everyone a laugh at least! 😂

[@rancewhite6781]

I love the way you girls talk.... So Awesome.... Keep up the good work!

[@TheGrailTastings]

Thank you! Will do!

[@tobiasweber9341]

My favourite caption so far was in one of Ralfies videos, where "Lagavulin" was turned into "Lego villain".

[@TheGrailTastings]

😂🤣😂 That's a good one!

[@reneerikolsen9694]

First, the new haircut looks good, Jen! Macallan is definitely a basic whisky (have tasted the 12Y double cask) but I do enjoy it. The price, though, is outrageous compared to so many other integrity malts. Nice reviews! And fun!

[@TheGrailTastings]

Thanks!

[@karltrinkwasser3076]

i am really glad that i have found your channel since you treat interesting topics and also i like the chemistry between you two. to me it seems that you are really close friends and that you harmonise together quite well. but i have to say i took my quiet some videos until i was able to understand you. was totally worth it to cross the language barrier... for example i have watched about 10 or more of your videos and i still understand "im jen - my name yayo" in the beginning. anyway, thanks for the good entertainment and education.

[@TheGrailTastings]

Thanks so much for tuning in and persevering with our accents Karl! If you'd like to add another dimension to your watching, if you click subtitles on it's quite hilarious to see KZbin attempt to translate us! We are always endeavouring to speak more clearly and shall keep this comment in mind when we next film!

[@thedude4718]

MacAllan 12 Sherry Cask is a particular favorite of mine

[@paulkukiel3725]

Macallan was a go-to whisky for me throughout the 90’s and into the early 2000’s. Their 18 was a treat and although priced somewhat high (I recall paying $90 CAD at the time), was certainly obtainable. However, once their quality started to dip, they got away from age-stated offerings, and their prices continued to climb, I decided to give them a pass and have never gone back. They are cashing in on their reputation/past glory, and are not offering anything now that can’t be surpassed by other producers at a lower price. I would take a bottle as a gift, but would never buy one on my own.

[@TheGrailTastings]

Quite a few people saying the same, that it used to be a good staple in the 90s but not so much now!

[@MrKapeji]

I was given a glass of Macallan once, very uninspiring considering the hype I had seen prior, completely agree with your assesment here.

[@troylee3700]

Whilst listening to your thoughts and Rachel mentioning GlenAllachie , I bought the GlenAllachie 15 year. What a good whisky, so tasteful and smooth. Really love the chocolate.

[@TheGrailTastings]

It's good stuff the Glenallachie!

[@Brad-ic4bp]

I like the Macallan 12 double cask, but for the price, I agree there are just better scotches out there (or even less expensive but better). Turning on the subtitles, I’m really impressed and amazed at how accurate it is - but when it’s wrong, it’s really wrong:).

[@TheGrailTastings]

Its amazing technology but yes, it can be really really funny!😂

[@dereksautereau7445]

How could I not love this episode! 😉And I feel illegitimate to speak about Macallan, having never had one, but needless to say it has just gone even further down my wishlist, as everyone seems to agree that there are much better value options out there.

[@TheGrailTastings]

Maybe one to try when its someone else's round!

[@RaduB.]

I've actually started with a non age statement Macallan some 6 years ago. I remember it had a nice smell and a subtle taste and that it was still affordable... Enjoyable! Since it got more expensive, even their cheapest one (the Quest) is beyond my normal budget. We find these three at £67, £100 and £114... I don't think I would spend so much for a bottle. I could get a Glenmorangie 10 for half the price of Gold 12. Or maybe something else! 🙂 By the way, I'm starting to understand over 90% of what you're saying. 😝

[@TheGrailTastings]

Great! Glad you are attuning to our accents! 😂 Exactly how we feel about Macallan too!

[@troylee3700]

On new years eve I will try the 18 year sherry oak for the first time, didn't buy it myself. I hope it will as good as the price

[@TheGrailTastings]

We have heard this one is very good! Haven't tried it ourselves though.

[@jeffreysparbeck7725]

These girls are delightful. Love these reviews

[@Boxer1250RT]

If you give a 12 year old Macallan as a gift, it is like a Gucci type of gift. If you give a bottle of Springbank to the same person, he/she will be like WTF is this? They are Marketing Genius for sure. There is nothing wrong with their products. Plus, they have a very handsome presentation with the box and the bottle design. Their distillery is like no other from the videos I've seen. Hope to visit someday. I turned the CC on and now I can enjoy the show 😀.

[@TheGrailTastings]

You are so right with this! We do also plan to visit the distillery and I'm sure they will win us over, even only for a while! Careful with those CCs! Don't believe them all! 😂

[@Boxer1250RT]

@@TheGrailTastings You should see some of the CC translations. Hilarious 😀!

[@captainbamis7257]

Wow. You guys responded to every comment it looks like. Bravo. Macallan 12 sherry oak original gangster is one of my favorite whiskies. For my palate and the way the nerves are organized in my olfactory system, that whisky is absolutely out of this world. It’s over-priced, it’s mainstream, it’s all those things. And it’s also delicious. I keep a healthy-sized selection at home, and I taste new whiskies as often as I can. Macallan 12 has never left my top 5. For sheer enjoyment, it’s either a PC 10 or Uigeadail if I’m wantin’ that sort of evening, or it’s a Macallan or HP 12. Not everyone likes it (not everyone likes that much sherry in general), but I suspect it makes an easy target because of how popular it is, even with the Range Rover folks that tell you how smooth it is. Love your videos. 😉🥃🧡

[@TheGrailTastings]

We've got lots of whiskies in our collection like that, just because it's a bit basic or a bit over hyped doesn't mean it's bad of course! Thanks for tuning in :)!

[@michaelwood3203]

Surely nobody even tries to understand you, the fun is watching you messing about and proving that whisky does not belong to only to men. Actually I think you, together, are doing a great job breaking down the whisky hype, and bringing things down to earth.

[@TheGrailTastings]

Thanks Michael!

[@kellicos]

Interesting! I’ve personally not tried Macallen, but the reason why is because when we were in Scotland recently, we couldn’t even get a tour there because they were booked, (and the tours were quite expensive, although they all sounded very nice!) but we just got this “too posh for us” vibe, because it seemed that they didn’t even have a shop or visitor center like a lot of distilleries, and from reading their website, you do need a reservation of some sort to even visit the grounds, and even the luncheons were booked, so…we chose to visit Glen Moray instead and we had a great visit, and bought a really nice limited release from them which we enjoy quite a bit. I think Glen Moray is more in the “to be enjoyed, not collected” category, which is just more “me”. I’d like to try MacAllen though…the next time someone else offers it to me 😂 Thanks for the review and the great videos, ladies! We will visit your shop for sure when we make it back over there!

[@TheGrailTastings]

Will keep that in mind when planning our visit! And yes, feel free to pop in and see us any time!

[@pablov9212]

Macallan could really use some Billy Walker bathwater seasoned casks. The 15 double cask was great, but I would never buy a bottle at $150 I think it was. And don't worry about speaking more clearly, that's half the fun of watching. Sometimes when you two get going, the better half and I have to pause the video and figure it out between us.

[@TheGrailTastings]

Haha that could be a fun game, figuring us out!😂

[@JR-nl3mh]

Greetings from Portugal. Jane reminds me Keira Knigthley. Pity too many "yeee" in her language. Keep the good work for both.

[@TheGrailTastings]

Thank you for watching from Portugal! Someone once told me I looked like her years ago too! That's funny! Too many yeee? Wee? or I agree too much? 😂 As long as you can understand me! Slàinte! 🥃

[@Marshmish]

Yep agree totally girls.

[@peathead4450]

For me the quality of Macallan does not justify the high prices. And in every (for me affordable) price category, I can find whiskies that I love more / consider better. Can make this into a long comment, but I just leave it with that. Regarding the packaging. Love you for putting me in the younger generation 🤩 Slàinte mhath

[@TheGrailTastings]

Exactly, same thoughts as us really! Slàinte!🥃

[@andy_calderwood]

Great review. As a enthusiast, its not a brand i look at or seek, overpriced and generic ( a lot of folk get the sulphur, but i never used to get that) . Agree, so much out there that blow these away for the same price, just don't get the hype.. Best description of the 15 drinker by Rachel .. ever 🤣🤣🤣. Thanks again....

[@TheGrailTastings]

Glad you agree!

[@RedOneCR]

Have you tried the Macallan classic cut (2019 and before) ? High ABV I like them a lot

[@TheGrailTastings]

No we haven't! We will have to look out for that!

[@simongilbert2704]

your bang on there girls , i shuddered when you said you had to speak more clearly = as i was one who commented , ..the macallans are trendy rather than intense drinkers , but like a lot of others i am a member of the m ;; but you just have to see the auctions and look at all the ardbegs and macs and wonder does anybody know what they taste like ;;; your spot on again with the glenrothes comment = a lot more bang for your buck than hp or mac , very underrated ;;= like you 2

[@TheGrailTastings]

Hopefully you could understand us better! I'm not sure though, I think we forgot about speaking more clearly pretty quickly! 😂 Gad you think the same re the Glenrothes!!👍🥃

[@Altosax449]

Love the review guys. Had some wonderful Macallan expressions from SMWS, but found their core range contrived and over priced.

[@TheGrailTastings]

Oh I bet the SMWS ones are good. There's a G&M one that's pretty good too.

[@fraserthistle4200]

Well I loved this moment @ 9:18

[@TheGrailTastings]

😂

[@TheGrailTastings]

😂

[@MecchaKakkoi]

Macallan is the NFT of the whisky world.

[@whitecollarwhisky]

Macallan Rare Cask was the whisky that opened the door for my journey. I’ve never found Macallan to be bad just horribly overpriced for what it is. The Cacao edition last year was a gift I really enjoyed but I find that the nostalgia has been surpassed by a value-minded disappointment.

[@TheGrailTastings]

Oh wow! I guess it could have been one that opened the door for many!

[@andrewmainprice2179]

I have never tried this whisky and the more marketing the worse the whisky. I would choose glenallachie 12 over this every time as it is presented well.

[@TheGrailTastings]

I think Rachel would 100% agree with you here!

[@BigDan23229]

Imagine if Macallan released their whisky at a minimum of 46%, NCF and natural color. I'm pretty sure it would be fantastic and we probably wouldn't complain about the price. Well, we might still complain, but not as much. 🤷‍♂️😂

[@TheGrailTastings]

We've love to try that and compare!

[@WasserundMalz]

At the beginning of my journey through whisky in the mid 90th Macallan was very great stuff! Now I totaly agree with you! There are a lot better whiskys out there for a better price. Macallan is a kind of status symbol. And hey, James Bond drinks Macallen! 😁

[@TheGrailTastings]

He also drinks martini shaken (not that there is a right or wrong way to enjoy your drink!) so I guess that's all we need to know about his taste on drinks! 🍸😂

[@WasserundMalz]

@@TheGrailTastings Yes! Absolutely right! 😂😂

[@iandunsmore8091]

It's not the people who like it to blame for the price, it's diageo! They are intentionally pricing it as a "luxury" item, they want it to be seen as superior to other whiskys - based on name, not taste. This might already be obvious, but I had this confirmed by a family member who works for Diageo, and he said they intend to push the brand to the even higher echelons of exclusivity, beyond premium.

[@Andy_Holbrook332]

It’s Edrington actually, as stated in the video. Diageo would love to own this brand! The marketing of ‘The Macallan’ is a lesson for all marketing folk, studies I’m sure in university courses

[@TheGrailTastings]

Thanks Andy!

[@greigmartin4339]

Completely agree it’s a status symbol whisky and avoided it like the plague for that reason. Tried the 12 year Sherry at a wedding last year and have to say it’s a very nice noser and “smooth” but as always over the top on the price.

[@peatbull3426]

Im still avoiding! If your best friend asks for alternative for Macallan what can you recommend?!

[@TheGrailTastings]

Precisely!

[@TheGrailTastings]

I'd say a nice wee indy bottling of a Glenburgie is always a good shout as a Macallan alternative or almost anything from Miltonduff too!

[@peatbull3426]

@@TheGrailTastings thank you Ladies will remember these. Im not fan of speysiders nice sweet easy sippers excluding Benromach but once a year need breake routine and try something from otherside. 😁🥂🙋🏻‍♂️

[@CatfishCounts]

It's overpriced and delicious. I'm just a couple years into my single malt journey. I bought a bottle of Sherry cask 12 after having my first pour on a date at a steak house and really enjoyed it. I had no idea of their reputation. So the first things I hear about them online is badmouthing them. I've continued on and bought probably 100 bottles of different beautiful malts. I liked Balvenie 12 Double Wood so I bought the Macallan 12 Double Cask and I think it's wonderful. The price on it and the Sherry cask has gone up $20 over the past year. I don't like that, but it doesn't change the nose or pallet enjoyment.

[@CatfishCounts]

Btw, their bottles here are 43% abv.

[@DonnerPassWhisky]

When I see a dusty Macallan 12 sherry cask in the pale brown box for a reasonable price will certainly buy it but it's been a long time since I've spotted one in the wild. Other than that no thank you. Cheers lady's

[@TheGrailTastings]

Ah you've sussed what to look for!

[@craigbutler623]

Mix it with some wee beastie , flavours glaore!

[@TheGrailTastings]

Oh I bet!

[@peterholmlund9454]

Many a fine product has been destroyed when corporate takes over.

[@TheGrailTastings]

Quite probably!

[@benmarnoch4111]

The Distillery is awesome, but it is a factory. Only exceptional marketing over the years, and probably a hefty dose of luck can explain why Macallan attracts such a premium. So good luck to Edrington and their Japanese backers. As you say there is nothing wrong with the whisky, but also nothing to explain why something that there is so much of (approaching 1m casks) can be fetching prices appropriate to something that is scarce. BTW they also sold Bunnahabhain, Glengoyne and Tamdhu, as well as Glenturret.

[@TheGrailTastings]

The others were a number of years ago though, Glenturret was only 2019 and all the more surprising as it was "Home of the Famous Grouse" a top selling bend! Seems to be doing better under Lalique though!

[@teebbeeis]

It’s the Johnnie Walker of Single Malts.

[@douglasyoung9320]

Macallan is flippers fair. Or it’s bought by folk who don’t really drink whisky. Good in the early 90s as I remember then they changed business strategy to target the luxury market. Prices climbed the secondary market did well and the rest is history. Everyone, and I do mean everyone who has the slightest interest in drinking Scotch whisky knows there are countless better drams than Macallan. To be fair they are changing. One of their latest NAS bottles is no chill filtered no colour added and 43%abv. You may well be correct with the observation that they will be left behind as they fail to appeal to a new generation of drinkers. I suspect that is the reason for no colour added etc on selected bottles. Keep in mind Macallan is chained to debt . Their new distillery and HQ cost millions. Certainly looks very modern. However the financiers want their return. Still to think that Talisker and Ardbeg want to follow this path. Very sad. Are they destined to join Macallan as whisky no one drinks anymore? Well they’d better be careful with over 70 new distilleries coming on line in Scotland in the next few years hopefully they will up their game rather than their price. You are correct about Macallan for the older generation. I buy it for my father in law at Christmas. He’s nearing 80 and I’ve now stop trying to tell him it’s over priced pish.

[@TheGrailTastings]

Yeah, sounds like you're exactly on the same page as us!

[@whiskeyisajourney]

I'm in the camp of over hyped and over priced for a basic tasting 12 and 15 year old whisky. They are good, but not as good as the mystique of the brand would suggest.

[@TheGrailTastings]

I think there are a lot of us in this camp here!

[@PSNeko]

Macallan is good, but just not worth it! Loved the sample of the 12 year old sherry, but a tamdhu 12 is just better and half the price! Macallum xD

[@TheGrailTastings]

Pretty much the same thoughts as us I think!

[@bdwilcox]

Like the Glenmorangie 10 and Glenfiddich 12, Macallan would be there in the dictionary under nice, fine, unoffensive, passable. The difference, though, with the Macallan is the price-gouging, feeling like a mediocre distillery riding out on its name, reputation and hype. It just feels very lazy for the money they're charging. Basically, a whiskey for those who don't know any better and grab what seems high-class (much like Johnny Walker Blue in the higher price range).

[@TheGrailTastings]

Totally the definition!!!

[@GeorgeMcConnon]

Balenciaga? 🤣 That's a very unfortunate association atm. Hopefully Macallan aren't planning a similar ad campaign 😳 I remember being in World of Whiskies in Heathrow a few years ago and the guy was trying to sell me Concept No. 3. He rattled off a fairly long list of selling points but never mentioned any tasting notes 🧐

[@TheGrailTastings]

Oh so it is! 😮😂 That's just it isn't it! Not expecting it to be opened and tasted!

[@Soulvinum]

It’s a ok Whiskey…not to bad

[@TheGrailTastings]

Exactly! Its alright!

[@Chris_Mckean]

I put the subtitles on, apparently it's all Bourbon and SHADY.....hahaha shady as f#$k. As well as flurry, flippery and floaty...I need some Macallan in my collection!

[@TheGrailTastings]

This is a problem in real life also! We have to say sherry in an American accent for our US visitors to understand! 😂

[@Chris_Mckean]

@@TheGrailTastings Haha, I get you, I once had an American think my name was Crush..!!

[@jbar6284]

What amuses me is how the way you say flower makes one think you're saying flour, and yet the pronunciation of e.g. Aberlour is "-lower" rather than "-lour".... And then you say flour (e.g. Almond flour) and I get confused all over again, thinking you meant blossom.🤣 I've tried the CC with Ralfy and that's often funny, but suspect it'd be too much distraction with your vids which are already so much fun and pleasure without. I think I can follow maybe ~80%, which is a good excuse to watch more and practice. On geographical (mis-)understandings: I now know what jobbies means but it's not a term familiar in NZ--and sounds oddly "childish"/twee, though maybe that's deliberate/part of the fun within the UK? We mostly stick to 4-letter words for such. Also to my ears it conjures human-produced whereas you're mostly talking farm animals like coos. Anyway, when I was a child in the 70s cows were thought to produce pats, but with the industrialisation of milk-production here (South Island) from the 90s everyone on farms started talking about chips--dried pats. And chips is also the term we use for what you call crisps... as well as the larger/square-cut ones wrapped in newsprint with fish, etc. And given your encyclopedic knowledge of crisps--when you discussed airy quavers recently I thought you meant musical--I thought you might enjoy. No, don't even think of using RP, that would spoil so much fun.😀 Better stop now while I'm only miles behind.🙄

[@tombryan9167]

I bought the 12yr double cask to try, having not purchased the brand since they withdrew the 10yr sherry finished version ,the smell was odd nothing overly decernable other than a bit oaky, the tast was a bit spicy tiny bit of vanilla and white pepper, no raisin like I was expecting, the finish I could only describe as unpleasant dry and fousty a corked red wine sort of taste, verry little of the sherry notes I remebered , I tryed letting it breathe before tasting also adding a tiny amount of water, neither made any improvement so I can honestly say I won't be buying any more Macallan . There's plenty of cheaper more redily available to choose from.

[@TheGrailTastings]

We think so too Tom!

[@pmckeown38]

Not for drinkers

[@Collwila]

"Depends on your pallet " No it depends on your wallet. They have to pay for that brand new distillery

[@TheGrailTastings]

A very good point Bill!

[@darkoanton5]

The 15 is £140 where I am in Canada. The 12 is £73. For comparison, Dalwhinnie 15 is £75. Glenfarclas 15 £67. Arran 10 £35. Kilkarren 12 £61. Glenfarclas 12 £40. I did buy the 12 triple cask a few months before COVID hit and paid £59.

[@DJMJRyder]

Macallan.... Does nothing unique and everything it does do is done better by other distilleries with better presentation (abv, chill filtration, colour) and a lot cheaper. So why bother

[@TheGrailTastings]

Yeah.....that's it really isn't it!

[@DimitarShishkov]

Unfortunately this brand has become the Disney world of Scotch, overpriced, all about the branding, packaging and marketing

[@TheGrailTastings]

Disney World! That's a good description!

[@Johnny__Silver]

Thank you for the inspiration to continue not to buy Macallan.

[@peatbull3426]

To be honest i dont need any motivation to avoid it. 😁🥂🙋🏻‍♂️

[@TheGrailTastings]

🤣

[@Nanoscot]

It's pish water awe it's good for is washing Paint brushes it's turps in disguise. Yer a mug tae buy It 🤣

[@TheGrailTastings]

😂👍

[@jtf2dan]

orangie...like glenm-orangie? LOL ....agreed,...it is nice tasting, but overhyped and over priced.

[@TheGrailTastings]

Totally aggree!

[@delhatton]

Beginner's scotch. As such, overpriced.