Macallan : Speymalt 20 Year Old 1st Fill Sherry Hogshead Itinéraires Collection Gordon & MacPhail 2004

Characteristics and tasting advice for Speymalt 20 Years 1st Fill Sherry Hogshead Itinéraires Collection Gordon & MacPhail 2004 from Macallan

Tasting

Nose
The nose reveals remarkable intensity with predominant notes of candied ginger, bourbon vanilla, and precious woods. As it opens up, spicy notes of clove and white pepper appear, while balsamic touches of eucalyptus and pine bring freshness.

Palate
Gourmet and indulgent, the palate opens with vanilla and praline aromas, evoking calisson and flan, along with the freshness of licorice and barley. Broad and silky, the palate combines over the course of the tasting notes of acacia honey, iris, candied lemon, green barley, a veil of licorice, and cocoa.

Food pairings and tasting moments

This single malt is aimed at discerning enthusiasts in search of complexity. The tasting should be slow and contemplative, gradually revealing every layer of its aromatic profile. Intended either to enrich a collector’s cellar or for a reflective end-of-day tasting, it is best enjoyed neat at room temperature to fully appreciate its richness and depth.

Mixology

This exceptional whisky is best savored without embellishment to respect the integrity of its 20-year maturation in sherry casks and its natural cask strength of 58.9%.

An exceptionally rich and complex Speyside single malt

Macallan, the excellence of Scottish whisky since 1824

Founded in 1824 by Alexander Reid on the Easter Elchies estate near Craigellachie, Macallan stands among the most prestigious distilleries in Speyside. Taken over in 1892 by R. Kemp, it has belonged to the Edrington group since 1999. Its historic signature is based on maturation predominantly in sherry casks, notably Oloroso, and a rigorous selection of oak and grains (with the Golden Promise variety having marked its history). The new distillery, inaugurated in 2018 and equipped with 36 stills, combines increased capacity with landscape-integrated architecture, illustrating the alliance of tradition and innovation.

Speymalt 20 Years 1st Fill Sherry Hogshead, an exceptional bottling by Gordon & MacPhail

The Speymalt 20 Years 1st Fill Sherry Hogshead Itinéraires Collection Gordon & MacPhail 2004 exemplifies the long-standing relationship between the Macallan distillery and the independent bottler Gordon & MacPhail, active for over a century. Distilled in 2004 and aged for 20 years in a first-fill sherry cask, this single cask highlights the aromatic richness associated with this type of maturation. Bottled at cask strength at 58.9% ABV, without chill filtration or added coloring, it preserves the integrity and authenticity of the distillate. This limited edition, part of the Itinéraires Collection, showcases Gordon & MacPhail’s selection expertise and Macallan’s identity. The presentation in a case underscores the premium character of this Scottish whisky, intended for knowledgeable enthusiasts and collectors.