SAMAROLI 1989 Macallan Magnifico 42%

Naming a whisky ‘Magnifico’, you have to be pretty confident that what you have is spectacular. And Samaroli were completely justified in giving this 33-year-old Macallan bottling that cocksure moniker.

Distilled at Macallan in 1989, this masterpiece was filled into Cask No, an ex-Bourbon barrel. It remained there for more than three decades, before being bottled in Scotland in 2022. The cask yielded just 137 precious bottles of this roughly 33-year-old Scotch, meaning there are very few to go around. Macallan is famed for its Sherry influence, so this pure Bourbon cask expression feels like a breath of fresh air. Elegance is the name of the game here, with silky notes of heather honey, juicy pear, crunchy green apple, vanilla and Scandinavian liquorice. The balance of maturity and vigour is mesmerising, creating a rare treat for the senses. Magnificent!