Macallan 18 Year Old 1979 Gran Reserva vs The Macallan 25 Year Old Sherry Oak - Pre 2018

Side-by-side comparison — price, ABV, scores, tasting notes, pros & cons.

Macallan 18 Year Old 1979 Gran ReservaThe Macallan 25 Year Old Sherry Oak - Pre 2018
DistilleryThe MacallanThe Macallan
RegionSpeysideSpeyside
CountryScotlandScotland
TypeSingle MaltSingle Malt
ABV40%43%
Age18 yr25 yr
Price£3999£2750
Rating5.00/54.91/5

Macallan 18 Year Old 1979 Gran Reserva

Smoke0/100
Sweetness53/100
Beginner70/100
Value1/100

The Macallan 25 Year Old Sherry Oak - Pre 2018

Smoke0/100
Sweetness60/100
Beginner70/100
Value2/100

Macallan 18 Year Old 1979 Gran Reserva

SmokySweetFruitySpicyWoodyFloral

The Macallan 25 Year Old Sherry Oak - Pre 2018

SmokySweetFruitySpicyWoodyFloral

Quick verdict

Macallan 18 Year Old 1979 Gran Reserva is rated higher (5.00 vs 4.91).

The Macallan 25 Year Old Sherry Oak - Pre 2018 is better value at £2750 vs £3999.

For beginners: Macallan 18 Year Old 1979 Gran Reserva is more approachable (70/100 beginner score).

Macallan 18 Year Old 1979 Gran Reserva

Pros

  • +Great entry point for new whisky drinkers
  • +Higher community rating (5.0/5)
  • +Vibrant, fresh fruit character

Cons

  • More expensive (£3999 vs £2750)

The Macallan 25 Year Old Sherry Oak - Pre 2018

Pros

  • +Great entry point for new whisky drinkers
  • +Better value for money
  • +More affordable (£2750 vs £3999)
  • +Longer maturation (25 vs 18 years)

Cons

  • Lower community rating (4.9 vs 5.0)

Who should buy Macallan?

Macallan 18 Year Old 1979 Gran Reserva suits whisky enthusiasts looking for a well-rounded, complex dram. It rewards those with some experience and an appreciation for Speyside character.

Who should buy The?

The Macallan 25 Year Old Sherry Oak - Pre 2018 suits whisky enthusiasts looking for a well-rounded, complex dram. It rewards those with some experience and an appreciation for Speyside character.

Tasting notes

Both taste of

SherriedOld WoodChocolateDried Fruit

Only Macallan 18 Year Old 1979 Gran Reserva

Toasted

Only The Macallan 25 Year Old Sherry Oak - Pre 2018

Tobacco

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