A 1971 vintage Macallan Anniversary Malt, distilled in 1971 and bottled in 1997 after 25 years in sherry casks. It is the 750mL bottling made for the American market, bottled at 43% ABV and presented here in its original wooden case.
About This Whisky
The Anniversary Malt series ran from 1983, when the first bottle carried the 1957 vintage, until the early 2000s. Almost every year brought a new vintage, each bottled at 25 years old and 43%. This one was distilled in 1971 and bottled in 1997. The 75cl size marks it as a US-market release, while European bottles of the same vintage were 70cl. It keeps the wooden box that came with the series until 2002.
Tasting Profile
- Nose: Opulent sherry: dark plum, raisin and fig, with toffee, orange zest, cinnamon and a touch of leather.
- Palate: Silky and rich, with caramel, dark chocolate and dried fig, spiced with clove, nutmeg and ginger over polished oak.
- Finish: Resinous, with espresso, cocoa and a gentle sweetness that holds on.
Serving & Food
Serve it neat and unchilled in a small tulip glass. Open the bottle a little while before pouring, since old whisky often needs air. Taste it neat. Afterwards, try it with roasted chestnuts, a slice of panforte, or a mature hard cheese.
How to Enjoy
Silver or pearl anniversaries, a 1971 birthday, and collectors of vintage Anniversary Malts.
Product Details
Distillery: The Macallan
Series: Anniversary Malt
Vintage/bottling: 1971 / 1997
Age: 25 years old
Region: Speyside, Scotland
Cask type: Sherry casks
ABV / Strength: 43% ABV
Bottle size / Format: 750mL
Presentation: Original wooden case
About the Distillery
The Macallan began with Alexander Reid, a barley farmer and schoolteacher who worked the Easter Elchies land above the River Spey. He licensed his distillery in 1824, soon after a change in the law made legal distilling practical in Scotland. Production has never left that estate: the stillhouse that made this 1971 spirit stood on the same slope above the river as the new distillery opened in 2018.