The last of the Gran Reserva vintages: distilled in 1982, bottled in 2002 after 20 years in sherry casks, and bottled at 40% ABV. It closes a small series built around The Macallan's most heavily sherried stock.
About This Whisky
Gran Reserva ran from the 1979 to the 1982 vintage, released between 1997 and 2002. Each was chosen from casks that gave maximum sherry character, and all were bottled at 40%. Most earlier Gran Reservas were bottled at 18 years, while this 1982 was held back until 2002, giving 20 years in wood. This is the 750mL bottle.
Tasting Profile
- Nose: Raisin, fig and orange peel with dark chocolate, old oak and baking spice.
- Palate: Rich and rounded, fruit cake and toffee over cocoa and sherry-soaked wood.
- Finish: Elegant and persistent, with dried fruit, clove and polished oak.
Serving & Food
Serve unchilled in a copita. It is bottled at a gentle strength, so skip the water. Try it with a cheese course of aged Manchego and quince paste, with walnut cake, or simply on its own after dinner.
How to Enjoy
Collectors completing the Gran Reserva set, and lovers of dense, dark sherry-cask malt.
Product Details
Distillery: The Macallan
Series: Gran Reserva
Vintage / Bottling: Distilled 1982, bottled 2002
Age: 20 years
Region: Speyside, Scotland
Cask Type: Sherry casks
ABV: 80 proof / 40% ABV
Volume: 750mL
Origin: Scotland
About the Distillery
The Macallan has been part of Edrington since 1999, when Edrington and William Grant & Sons jointly took over Highland Distillers, the distillery's owner at the time. The company trades as The Macallan Distillers Ltd and is still based at Easter Elchies. Under Edrington the distillery moved firmly into rare and aged whisky: the Fine & Rare collection of vintages dating back to 1926, the Six Pillars Collection of 50 to 65 year olds in Lalique crystal from 2005, and a new distillery and visitor experience that opened in 2018.