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Daniel, For ORIGINAL BOTTLINGS, many distilleries add caramel coloring for shelf consistency for the consumer as the average consumer does not understand variations in color; thus, the consumer creates a perception in their mind that something is wrong with the whisky if they do see color variations. It is normally the independent bottlers that don't add coloring as most independents bottle single casks. But they do vat multiple casks on occasion.

Macallan is no exception. As they do not add coloring to many of their bottlings, they DO ADD CARAMEL COLORING in their 12-Year-Old ( Reference JIM MURRAY'S WHISKY BIBLE 2010 ).