The Macallan Harmony Collection Scotch Amber Meadow – 2023

Classification: Single Malt
Distillery: The Macallan
Region/Island: Speyside
Mashbill: 100% Malted Barley
Age: NAS
Proof: 88.4

Harmony III – Inspired by Nature

Ah, the third Harmony Collection — this time they’ve roped in Stella and Mary McCartney, because apparently whisky now needs celebrity fashion sense along with decent cask management. On the nose, you’re hit with oranges, plums, and satsumas, as if someone’s just upended the fruit bowl at the village fête. There’s honeysuckle and gorse too, which is either romantic or means the gardener’s overdue. A wee whiff of bananas and marshmallows sneaks in — like finding the dessert table before dinner.

On the palate, it’s creamy vanilla and oak spice giving you a nice handshake, with sultanas and quinine lurking in the background like distant cousins you’re not sure you invited. Almonds, eucalyptus, and ginger turn up briefly, each with their own strange hat, then leave without saying goodbye.

The finish? Medium, a wee bit dry, with nutmeg, oak shavings, oranges, and the unmistakable sternness of strong breakfast tea. It’s like the dram just told you to sit up straight and mind your manners.

Overall: A refined stroll through a Scottish meadow… followed by a firm cup of tea and a reminder that you’re still on McCartney time, not yours.