Glenallachie 12 vs Macallan 12: Head to Head!

Discover the differences between Glenallachie 12 vs Macallan 12 in this in-depth comparison and decide which Single Malt is better for You!

Glenallachie 12

Nose	Banana, almond, oak
Palate	Banana, caramel, raisins, chocolate
Finish	Medium, oak, chocolate
Alcohol content	92 proof (46% ABV)
How to drink	Neat
Similar to	Glendronach 12

Glenallachie 12 is absolutely gorgeous, complex, full-bodied, sweet, rich and smooth despite a high 92 proof.

The nose pleasantly hits with notes of banana, almond and subtle oak.

On the palate, Glenallachie feels creamy and honeyed, with more banana, along caramel, raisins and chocolate.

The finish is medium to long, smooth, with very little heat, leaving an aftertaste of gentle oak spice and chocolate.

The delicious flavors of caramel, chocolate and oak shine through with a moderately spicy finish that lingers nicely; it gets better by adding a few drops of water making it more complex and sweeter.

Glenallachie was aged in Pedro Ximénez sherry, oloroso sherry, and virgin oak casks that provided those sweet tasting notes making a tasty and smooth Single Malt Scotch.

This malt is remarkably good, quite flavorful yet smooth making one the best sherried whiskies you can buy today.

This is a non chill-filtered whisky with no caramel coloring ticking in two important boxes for many die hard aficionados.

There are a few facts worth knowing about Glenallachie 12:

• Gold medal at the 2019 San Francisco World Spirits Competition.

• Founded in 1967 making one of the youngest distilleries in Scotland.

• Glenallachie remains an independent distiller and is owned by Billy Walker, Trisha Savage and Graham Stevenson.

Macallan 12 Sherry Oak

Nose	Vanilla, dried fruit, oak
Palate	Vanilla, dried fruit, oak, prune
Finish	Oak and sherry
Alcohol content	86 proof (43% ABV)
How to drink	Neat
Similar to	Dalmore 12, GlenDronach 12

The nose is rich in vanilla, followed by dried fruit and a tad of oak.

On the palate, the Sherry Oak provides a nice creamy texture. First sip is pleasantly warming and sweet, with hints of vanilla, dried fruit and prune and a gentle touch of oak.

The finish is long, with notes of and sherry and just enough heat to remind you that you are sipping a fine malt.

The Macallan Sherry Oak is a nice and smooth mellow dram with no harshness whatsoever and quite easy to sip.

This is the sherried version of the Double Cask and more appealing to most consumers as it easier to sip, due to the additional sherry wine sweetness as opposed to to the strong oak notes from the Double Cask.

It drinks nicely neat without need to add water or chaser. If you want to drink it rocks add a large ice ball avoiding dilution.

There are a few facts worth knowing about the Sherry Oak:

• The Sherry Oak Cask ages for 12 years in hand-picked Oloroso Sherry-seasoned oak casks. Oloroso is an incredibly sweet and smooth wine from Spain which flavors are very present in this single malt.

• The Macallan distillery was founded in 1824 and is located in Craigellachie, Moray, Scotland.

• This brand is owned by the Edrington Group who also owns Highland Park, Glenrothes and the Famous Grouse.

Glenallachie 12 vs Macallan 12: Price comparison

Prices are approximate and stated in USD:

Whisky	Price
Glenallachie 12	$76
Macallan 12 Sherry Oak	$89

Glenallachie 12 vs Macallan 12: Which is better?

Glenallachie reigns supreme among sherried whiskies

Whiskey	Glenallachie 12	Macallan 12
Nose	✅	✅
Body	✅
Palate	✅	✅
Finish	✅	✅
Value	✅

• Both are two of the best 12 year Single Malt Scotch Whiskies you can buy today so you can´t go wrong, but the Glenallachie comes on top of the Macallan.

• The higher proof and not being chill-filtered added more depth without bringing warm, letting you appreciate beautiful tasting notes.