I always like the idea of filling two types of casks with the same spirit – it really shows you how big the influence of the wood has been. Be sure to compare this Macallan 1990 from a Fino cask #1135 with its sibling Oloroso cask #1134.

Macallan 21 yo 1990  (51,5%, Malts of Scotland 2011, Fino sherry hogshead #1135, 254 btl.)

Nose: again quite aromatic, but drier and flatter and a little less fresh (airing helps). It lacks the sparkling raspberry and juicy fruits (still some apples though). Instead there are plenty of spices and herbs (pepper, nutmeg, aniseed, thyme) as well as some vegetal, earthy and leathery elements. Faint meaty notes (oxo). Some hay and leather. Less classic I would say. Mouth: the roasted notes are more prominent here, they even suggest a little smoke. More oak as well. Heather. Again lots of spices, with bags of pepper, ginger and nutmeg. Bitter notes towards the end (walnuts). Finish: medium long, dry and spicy, with hints of bitter chocolate.

This one is less to my liking, as it plays the card of pepper and dry herbs without having the juicy fruitiness to balance it. Around € 120.

Score: 81/100