Every year, Macallan’s Classic Cut series turns up the volume without losing the harmony. The 2023 edition is a bold composition — a whisky of structure and brilliance, with a higher ABV that brings both energy and intimacy. Think of it as a jazz solo with precision engineering.

On the nose, it comes alive with bright clarity: candied orange peel, fresh ginger, sweet lemon tart, vanilla shortbread, and baked pear in brown butter. There’s cinnamon and honey, yes, but also a backbone of toasted oak and creamy caramelised sugar. It smells alive — zesty, rich, magnetic.

The palate opens in a rush. Juicy tangerine, warm butterscotch, white pepper spice, and golden apple all arrive in rhythm. The high ABV amplifies every note without distortion — it’s precise, focused, electric. Ginger cake, milk chocolate, and toasted almond emerge mid-palate with energy and warmth.

Water shifts it into a new key. Everything rounds out — creme brulee, nougat, stone fruit syrup, and a touch of herbal honey. Still vibrant, still bright, but softened into something even more expressive.

The finish is long, spiced, and layered — a curtain call of fruit, vanilla, and oak tannin. This dram is a modern Macallan for those who like their elegance with a bit of muscle and melody.