Macallan 1969 / 52 Year Old / Duncan Taylor Rarest Reserve Speyside Whisky

Ayako Hirano — Solid old Speyside from Duncan Taylor

8/10

Had this side by side with a 30-year-old Macallan and the extra two decades really show in the complexity. More dried fruit, more oak influence, a longer finish. The 41.4% is perhaps a touch low for my preference — I like old whisky at cask strength — but it's still a very refined pour. Just wish it didn't cost as much as a holiday.

Gianluca Ferro — Solid old Speyside from Duncan Taylor

8/10

Had this side by side with a 30-year-old Macallan and the extra two decades really show in the complexity. More dried fruit, more oak influence, a longer finish. The 41.4% is perhaps a touch low for my preference — I like old whisky at cask strength — but it's still a very refined pour. Just wish it didn't cost as much as a holiday.

Emily Thomas — Solid old Speyside from Duncan Taylor

8/10

Had this side by side with a 30-year-old Macallan and the extra two decades really show in the complexity. More dried fruit, more oak influence, a longer finish. The 41.4% is perhaps a touch low for my preference — I like old whisky at cask strength — but it's still a very refined pour. Just wish it didn't cost as much as a holiday.

Tyler Bennet — Beautiful but the price stings

8/10

A friend opened his bottle for a special occasion and I got a pour neat. The nose alone is worth sitting with for twenty minutes — dark chocolate, raisins, polished oak. It's stunning whisky but I can't pretend the £9,250 price tag doesn't colour my opinion. There are exceptional drams at a fraction of this cost.

Nils Bergman — Beautiful but the price stings

8/10

A friend opened his bottle for a special occasion and I got a pour neat. The nose alone is worth sitting with for twenty minutes — dark chocolate, raisins, polished oak. It's stunning whisky but I can't pretend the £9,250 price tag doesn't colour my opinion. There are exceptional drams at a fraction of this cost.

Jackson Wu — Beautiful but the price stings

8/10

A friend opened his bottle for a special occasion and I got a pour neat. The nose alone is worth sitting with for twenty minutes — dark chocolate, raisins, polished oak. It's stunning whisky but I can't pretend the £9,250 price tag doesn't colour my opinion. There are exceptional drams at a fraction of this cost.

Erik Strom — History in a glass

8/10

Distilled in 1969. That blows my mind every time I think about it. The whisky itself is gorgeous — sherry-soaked fruit cake, beeswax, and old library books on the nose. Palate is soft and warming despite the modest ABV. I only got a small measure at a bar but I'm glad I tried it before it's all gone.

Yasmine Najjar — History in a glass

8/10

Distilled in 1969. That blows my mind every time I think about it. The whisky itself is gorgeous — sherry-soaked fruit cake, beeswax, and old library books on the nose. Palate is soft and warming despite the modest ABV. I only got a small measure at a bar but I'm glad I tried it before it's all gone.

Oscar Delgado — History in a glass

8/10

Distilled in 1969. That blows my mind every time I think about it. The whisky itself is gorgeous — sherry-soaked fruit cake, beeswax, and old library books on the nose. Palate is soft and warming despite the modest ABV. I only got a small measure at a bar but I'm glad I tried it before it's all gone.

Kai Oliveira — Exceptional but fading slightly

7/10

Don't get me wrong, this is a remarkable whisky, but at 52 years I felt the oak had started to dominate a bit. The fruit and spice are still there underneath but you have to look for them. Sipped it neat at room temperature and enjoyed it, but I've had younger Macallans that felt more alive and balanced.

Annika Svensson — Exceptional but fading slightly

7/10

Don't get me wrong, this is a remarkable whisky, but at 52 years I felt the oak had started to dominate a bit. The fruit and spice are still there underneath but you have to look for them. Sipped it neat at room temperature and enjoyed it, but I've had younger Macallans that felt more alive and balanced.

Maxwell Green — Exceptional but fading slightly

7/10

Don't get me wrong, this is a remarkable whisky, but at 52 years I felt the oak had started to dominate a bit. The fruit and spice are still there underneath but you have to look for them. Sipped it neat at room temperature and enjoyed it, but I've had younger Macallans that felt more alive and balanced.

Tariq Hassan — The best thing I've ever tasted

10/10

I know a 10 is bold but I stand by it. My father-in-law poured me a dram at Christmas and I genuinely got emotional. Layers of dried apricot, dark honey, and gentle wood spice that just kept going. I've been drinking whisky for fifteen years and nothing has come close to this.

Marco Andretti — The best thing I've ever tasted

10/10

I know a 10 is bold but I stand by it. My father-in-law poured me a dram at Christmas and I genuinely got emotional. Layers of dried apricot, dark honey, and gentle wood spice that just kept going. I've been drinking whisky for fifteen years and nothing has come close to this.

Astrid Nilsen — The best thing I've ever tasted

10/10

I know a 10 is bold but I stand by it. My father-in-law poured me a dram at Christmas and I genuinely got emotional. Layers of dried apricot, dark honey, and gentle wood spice that just kept going. I've been drinking whisky for fifteen years and nothing has come close to this.

Clara Johansson — Duncan Taylor nailed this cask

9/10

I've tried a few independent bottlings of old Macallan and this is right up there. The 52 years have given it this silky, almost waxy quality with stewed plums and a hint of tobacco on the finish. At 41.4% ABV it's not a powerhouse but every sip reveals something new. Proper special occasion whisky.

Freya Lindqvist — Duncan Taylor nailed this cask

9/10

I've tried a few independent bottlings of old Macallan and this is right up there. The 52 years have given it this silky, almost waxy quality with stewed plums and a hint of tobacco on the finish. At 41.4% ABV it's not a powerhouse but every sip reveals something new. Proper special occasion whisky.

Ethan Cooper — Duncan Taylor nailed this cask

9/10

I've tried a few independent bottlings of old Macallan and this is right up there. The 52 years have given it this silky, almost waxy quality with stewed plums and a hint of tobacco on the finish. At 41.4% ABV it's not a powerhouse but every sip reveals something new. Proper special occasion whisky.