Whisky With Little Or None Smoke: Macallan Select Oak?
 

Hi!

I am fairly new to whisky and want some advise to scotch single malt's with little or none smoketaste.

I understand most scotch does have this smoke-taste.

But I wonder if Macallan Select Oak is a good choice for me? I dont really like to much smoketaste.

Im about to visit a taxfree-market in a few days and wonder what I should buy.

So, is Macallan select oak a good choice then?

My favorite whiskey up til now are Bushmills Single Malt.

Unpeated malts are the glengoyne and hazelburn. About the select oak macallan it has a slightly smoke hint but I believe you would like it. Personally I prefer the sherry oak macallans to the select oak.

:-)

They have two Glengoynes at the shop; "12 Y.O. Cask Strenght 57,5%" and "17 Y.O. 40%".

I believe the "cask strenght" would be to strong in alcohol for me, but would you recommend the other "17 Y.O." for someone who dont want smoke-taste (unpeated malt)?

How mush smoke-taste does the Macallan have relative to e.g. Famous Grouse?

As I said glengoyne uses unpeated malt so it has zero smoke taste so I guess it would be good for you. I would buy the cask strength. The famous grouse is a blend which uses macallan as the single malt. So if you taste smoke in the famous grouse I think you will taste more smoke in the select oak. I wouldn't say that the select oak is a peaty whisky though, as I said a hint of smoke. I don even feel the smoke in the famous grouse (the normal must production one that is)

Thanks for the advise! :)

Guess I'll go for the Glengoyle then. (I also don't think there is much smoketaste in Famous Grouse, but I imagine there is a little...)

But cask strength? Isn't that awfully strong? :)

I like to drink whisky whitout water/ice in it... are you saying you drink 60% whisky straight?

I recon if I buy cask strength, and add some water, I will get just the same as I would if I bought 40%?

Usually people drink the cask strength whiskies with a little water which releases the flavors and aromas because the high alcohol numbs the taste buds. But I drink it neat. I always enjoy my whisky without anything in it. I guess it's a mater of taste , just experiment a little and you ll find out how you like it!

I think I will try cask strength then! Thanks!

I am sorry if I go off topic, but the "usual" 40% strength you buy at the store, is that just a mix they have made of cask strength and water?

cask strength , it differs from barrel to barrel. Every time a barrel is used produces whisky with a lower strength. You can find whisky from 67 alcohol until 42 which are cask strength. But yes the usual 40 percent must production whisky is diluted with water.

Macallan Cask Strength is around 115 proof. I drink it as is and is one of my favorite. It is no longer produced but still in some stores and a good Whisky investment to hold on to.