The Macallan Rare Cask
No age on the label, but strict selection: less than 0.1% of all maturing Macallan qualifies. From sixteen types of sherry casks made of American and European oak, many of them first fill. Vanilla, raisins, apple and citrus.
Chosen for flavor, not age
For most Macallans, the number on the label determines the style. Rare Cask works the other way around: the whisky makers select casks for their flavor, regardless of their age. Less than 0.1% of all maturing whisky is deemed good enough. Those casks come from sixteen different types, all sherry casks made of American and European oak, and many of them are first fill: casks that are holding whisky for the first time.
First fill casks impart the most sherry, and you can see and taste it: a rich color and a full flavor of vanilla, raisins, apple, lemon and orange. Compared with Sherry Oak 18, it is fruitier and fresher, with more apple and citrus. Like the 18-year-old, it is 43% ABV and comes in a luxury box.
In brief
Rich fruit with a fresh citrus note
Vanilla and raisins
Warm vanilla and raisins from the sherry casks, with a fresh note of apple running through it.
Apple and orange
Full and rich, with apple, lemon and orange keeping the sherry sweetness lively.
Long and fruity
A long finish in which raisins and citrus gradually fade together.
Flavor profile of Rare Cask neat. Because there is no fixed age, each edition may taste slightly different.
Taste Rare Cask
A whisky that calls for a moment: opening a gift, sharing a glass. Neat and at room temperature.
Pure, seeking the fruit
30 ml in a tulip-shaped tasting glass. When nosing, note the order: vanilla and raisin first, followed by apple and citrus. Take small sips and hold them in your mouth for a moment.
Glass: tasting glass →With friends
Rare Cask is an ideal bottle to share. Pour 20 ml into a tasting glass for everyone and have each person write down what they smell first. The differences are surprising.
Tasting glasses →With a drop of water
A few drops of room-temperature water bring the lemon and orange to the fore. Add it after the first sip so you can taste the difference.
Glass: tasting glass →Classics for those who still want to mix
Rare Cask is best enjoyed neat. If you do make a cocktail with it, choose recipes that let the whisky's fruit shine through.
Whisky Sour
Whisky, lemon, sugar and egg white. Complements the lemon and orange in the whisky.
Old Fashioned
Whisky, sugar, bitters and an orange zest. Rich, fruity and simple.
Hot Toddy
Whisky with hot water, honey and lemon. Apple and citrus in a wintry version.
Manhattan
Whisky, red vermouth and bitters. With Rare Cask's notes of raisin and vanilla.The right glass for Macallan Rare Cask
A tulip-shaped tasting glass to capture the fruit, a cognac glass for a relaxed evening and a heavy tumbler for an Old Fashioned.
More flavours from The Macallan
The Macallan
Where it began. On the brand page, discover everything about The Macallan: origins, varieties and classic cocktails.
To The Macallan →
The Macallan Sherry Oak 12 Years
Twelve years in sherry oak from Jerez. Velvety smooth, with dried fruit, spices and oak.
View The Macallan Sherry Oak 12 Years →
The Macallan Double Cask 15 Years
Vanilla, citrus and butterscotch from American oak, spices from European oak. Sweet, warm and balanced.
View The Macallan Double Cask 15 Years →
The Macallan Double Cask 18 Years
Eighteen years in Oloroso in two types of oak. Raisins, sultanas and caramel, with ginger and citrus.
View The Macallan Double Cask 18 Years →
The Macallan Sherry Oak 18 Years
At least eighteen years in Spanish sherry casks. Deep amber, with dried fruit, nuts, orange and ginger.
View The Macallan Sherry Oak 18 Years →Everything about whisky: the types, the best-known brands and the cocktails.
Questions about The Macallan Rare Cask
Didn't find your question? Read more on the page about The Macallan or explore our cocktail recipes.
Everything about The Macallan →