Macallan M Decanter

This one is overdue but I was looking at the M Decanter today and thought it time to write about it and dig out my notes from the night in question, so here it is.

Earlier in the year I went along to The Macallan’s release of their latest creation, The Macallan M-Decanter, it took place in Hong Kong in May 2013. In the Cities Convention center, with over 800 guests, some distinguished guests and some not, I guess I fall into the latter category. The unveiling included socialites, celebrities, whisky enthusiasts and me.

Firstly The M-Decanter was collaboration between creative director Fabien Baron, France crystal master Lalique, and The Macallan, the decanter was a hand-crafted 6-facet decanter to celebrate the 6 Pillars, the tenet in the making of the single malt, there were 1750 crystal decanters available worldwide. The name was inspired by the geometric, angular shape of the character ‘M’.

Secondly overall the entertainment was ok with the Hong Kong Sinfonietta performed works from Tchaikovsky and Johann Strauss Jr. The food was spectacular, a thoughtfully designed menu, again to exemplify the 6 Pillars.  Jaume Ferras Santin, the global marketing manager of The Macallan, led us through each of the courses that were paired with their 15 Year old Fine Oak, 17 Year old Fine Oak and 21 Year Old Fine Oak, and completed with a wee Dram from The M-Decanter. Everyone knows my thoughts on pairing and let’s face it what else do Macallan have to pair with the food, not much else stock wise with age statements in Asia or Hong Kong. So back to the M-Decanter, it was unveiled during the dinner descending from the sky, under a light and sound show.

 

For me this was my first unveiling and it was a little over dramatized and flashy but hey this is show business. I read one article on this saying that the meticulous craftsmanship was admired by guests. Well the final product in terms of the decanter and its piano finished box is ok, was it the best they have done in terms of Decanter…? No they have done better looking decanters.

But it’s all about the Dram, so was it any good and did it live up to the Hype?

 

 

Tasting…

 

Nose: Spices, demerara sugar, marzipan, wedding cakey, with all the fruits and peel, woody and old.

 

Palate: Very dry, jammy fruit cake and liquorice root.

 

Finish: Spices - cinnamon and clove, raisins.

 

Comment: This is mixed age barrels, very old-school Macallan, from there 1824 Series. Would I buy it? No, I could get a lot of fantastic bottles for that money and have some great Malt moments, I would say however its worth tasting, also the budget that went into the launch would have cost them an arm and a leg. I personally like Macallan, I am a fan of the Sherry Oak bottling’s and this is an iimpressive dram, this shows us that they do still have some old casks lurking about their dunage warehouses. They do however need to become ambassadors for the age statement bottling’s which today we see sadly diminishing. There investment in quality sherry casks and their refocus on sherry matured drams is amazing, so here’s hoping for the future.

 

Here is a video of the launch: