"A light sherried Speysider from a rather famous distillery. It does not have the quality from its older brother from last year, but still fairly good"
(Photo from Whiskybase)
We had the 14-year-old secret Speyside, which appears to come from the same distillery (Macallan), and find quite good (score 85). This year they released its younger brother, which based on the colour seems to contain less cask influence. I mean, the 14-year-old did have an impressive dark colour. Anyhow, this does not mean that this 10-year-old will be any less.
Nose
A typical sherry nose right from the start. Raisins, other dried fruits like plums and figs light, and (luckily) only hint of sulphur. The sherry indeed appears modest. Then come honey glaze, new leather, a hint of new magazines, or maybe those ball points (we shall mention no brands here). There are some fresh fruits in between, probably banana, peaches and figs. Not too complex, but not bad either.
Taste
The palate directly has a very reasonable balance, with a light sherry influences. Hints of leather, lots of raisin cakes, honey, walnut cake, plums sauce. It is rather lovely. It continues with lots of fresh figs, again lovely, and for the rest it stays mostly the same. Not too much development, maybe a tad boring. The finish has more raisins, walnut cake, some pecan nuts and a hint of sweet liquorice perhaps, but it fades reasonably quickly.
Overall
This is certainly not a bad whisky, but it is also not as good as its older brother. The light sherry influence pleases me, but it just misses some complexity and development. But we will try another sibling next year in case another will be released.
- Review 2018-080
- Single malt
- Secret (Macallan)
- The Maltman (Meadowside Blending)
- 2007
- Bottled 2018
- Sherry butt (#10900)
- Natural colour
- Non-chill filtered
- 55.2
- 804
- ±70-100
- Difficult to find
- Whiskybase #109755
What others say
Big thanks to for sharing the sample
Scores
• these are my personal views, so do not take them too seriously… nothing beats tasting these for yourself •
- Light sherry
- Fresh figs
- Honey