🥃 The Macallan Sherry Oak 12 Years Old
12-year-old single malt Scotch from Macallan in the Sherry Oak range; the base of the sherry range; 40% ABV.
The Macallan Sherry Oak 12 Years Old is a 12-year-old single malt whisky from Speyside, 40% ABV. According to The Whiskey Wash, it is the base of the brand's sherry range, with the 18 and 25-year-old expressions above it. The name Sherry Oak refers to maturation in oak casks that previously held sherry.
Whiskypedia writes that Macallan's core distillate goes mainly into 500-litre sherry casks made of European and American oak. The special casks are made by the cooper Tevasa in Jerez, who decides what they are seasoned with and for how long; oloroso is used. Difford's Guide adds that the brand does not colour its whisky with caramel.
Why this matters to you. Sherry Oak is the older, “classic” Macallan line, and it should not be confused with Double Cask, which combines two types of oak. Twelve years is the age of the youngest whisky in the bottle, and strength can differ between markets, so check the label. The WHO reminds us that there is no safe level of alcohol consumption.
Facts
| Legal basis | Scotch Whisky Regulations 2009 (Single Malt Scotch Whisky) |
|---|---|
| Raw material | malted barley |
| Cask type | oak casks previously holding sherry, mainly 500 l; seasoning with oloroso |
| Minimum maturation | at least 3 years in oak by law; this expression is 12 years |
| Alcohol (% vol.) | 40% ABV |
How it connects to Spirits
🥃 The Macallan Sherry Oak 12 Years Old → packed in → 🍷 Oak barrel ← packed in ← 🥃 Spirits
Links
- Packed in
- 🍷 Oak barrel, 🍷 Sherry
- Made from
- 🥃 Barley and malt in whisky
- What it contains
- 🍷 Ethanol
- What it affects
- 🍷 Alcohol and health, 🍷 Drunk driving
- Part of
- 🥃 The Macallan, 🥃 Single Malt Scotch Whisky
- Similar and different
- 🥃 The Macallan Double Cask 12 Years Old, 🥃 The Macallan Double Cask 18 Years Old, 🥃 The Macallan Double Cask 12 Years Old, 🥃 The Macallan Double Cask 18 Years Old, 🥃 The Macallan Sherry Oak 18 Years Old, 🥃 The Macallan Sherry Oak 18 Years Old, 🥃 Glenfiddich
Frequently asked questions
Is it true that Macallan Sherry Oak 12 is not coloured with caramel?
Yes. According to Difford's Guide, no caramel colouring is added to Macallan whisky, and Whiskypedia says the colour of the whisky is not adjusted.
What is the strength of Sherry Oak 12?
40% ABV, according to The Whiskey Wash. Strength may differ in other markets.
What does the name Sherry Oak mean?
Maturation in oak casks seasoned with sherry. Whiskypedia calls it the classic, fully sherried line.
What to read next
- 🥃 The Macallan Double Cask 12 Years Old — 12-year-old single malt Scotch from Macallan Double Cask; 40% ABV; European and American oak seasoned with sherry.
- 🍷 Alcohol and health — Alcohol in any drink is harmful in large amounts, and the risks grow with the quantity.
- 🍷 Ethanol — The alcohol formed during fermentation that makes you drunk.
- 🍷 Oak barrel — A wooden barrel of oak staves in which wine matures and breathes.
- 🥃 Glenfiddich — Distillery and brand of single malt scotch in Dufftown (Speyside), founded in 1886; owned by the family firm William Grant & Sons; the 12-year-old is 40% ABV.
Similar
🥃 The Macallan Sherry Oak 18 Years Old · 🥃 The Macallan Double Cask 12 Years Old · 🥃 The Macallan Double Cask 18 Years Old · 🥃 Glenfiddich 18 Year Old Small Batch Reserve · 🥃 Glenfiddich 15 Year Old Solera · 🥃 The Glenrothes 18 Year Old
⚠️ Spirit drinks contain alcohol and are for adults only. Alcohol harms health. Do not drink during pregnancy or before driving; check the label for ingredients and possible allergens.
Sources
- The Whiskey Wash: How good is The Macallan 12 Year Old Sherry Cask according to experts? (Sherry Oak 12, 40 %, base of the sherried range)
- Scotchwhisky.com (Whiskypedia): Macallan (predominantly 500 l ex-sherry casks; Oloroso seasoning with Jerez cooper Tevasa; no colour adjustment)
- Difford's Guide: The Macallan Distillery (Easter Elchies, Craigellachie, 1824, Edrington; sherry casks, dry Oloroso favoured; no caramel colouring)
- The Scotch Whisky Regulations 2009 (SI 2009/2890), reg. 3: definition and categories of Scotch Whisky (Scotland, oak up to 700 l, min. 3 years, min. 40 % ABV)
- WHO/Europe: No level of alcohol consumption is safe for our health (04.01.2023)