[youtube height=”720″ width=”1280″]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=745wmV5dzM8&list=PL36O7QkNnc2MzmBPqoF80uezxARJRVgaJ&index=9[/youtube]
Rating:
Price:
Circa £35
In a Nutshell:
The best value of the 1824 Series in this whisky lover’s humble opinion. Light, smooth, easy drinking – a good entry level single malt at a reasonable price. Refreshing, insofar as something that is 40% alcohol by volume can be refreshing.
You won’t be blown away, and it’s not a huge leap from the Speyside taste that you’re (probably) used to but you might be pleasantly surprised by some of the citrus flavours and how very subtle and nicely balanced it is (or I was anyway).
The Macallan Gold
The first, youngest and cheapest whisky in The Macallan’s relatively new 1824 Series, it is indeed gold in colour, and gold in presentation. I believe it is comparable/equivalent to Macallan’s 10 year (now retired)
We Drink It, Stuff Happens
lightweight baby!
Nose:
All subtlety. Honeyed, floral, light (very little alcohol on the nose), plus a little bit of citrus if you give it a good sniff. Pretend you’re a basset hound with expensive tastes or something…
Palette:
Also subtle – smooth as SILK. The palette, like the nose, presents next to no burn at all. I wouldn’t say it’s watery, but there’s a kind of not-quite-fruityness that is kinda refreshing and oddly thirst quenching.
It leads with the vanilla, which quickly unfolds into slightly more pronounced lemon, there’s also a little persistent hazelnut that fills out the body (but not too much, it is a rather light whisky, afterall…).
Finish:
Pretty speedy – as you might expect from a light whisky. It fades leaving a little warmth at the back of your throat and the merest hint of citrus on your tongue. I could swear I caught just bit of ‘grape’ at the end as well.
Verdict
I am surprised by the negative reviews I’ve read on Masterofmalt – everybody I’ve done a tasting with for Gold has described it as eminently drinkable and well priced. It’s also easygoing enough on the palette that I think it’ll play nicely in all sorts of food and whisky pairings.
The way I see it, Gold is a very good ‘go to’ whisky – one to be enjoyed by beginners and connoisseurs alike! And yes, I’ll certainly be buying another when this one runs out.
With thanks to the fine people at drinks retailer 31DOVER.com who sent us a bottle of this whisky to try!