No The Macallan 12 is not being discounted, don’t freak out. π
I wasn’t trying to be sensational with the title (which is why the answer isn’t buried somewhere in the middle of the post) but this was the title of a Whisky Magazine forum thread around the middle of last year and this was just a few months after Diageo announced that Johnnie Walker Green would be discontinued. While the Macallan is owned by the Edrington Group, a different company responsible for other single malts like Highland Park), I think people were on edge that their favorite scotches would be going away.
Fortunately, The Macallan 12 sells quite well (one reason why JW Green was discontinued) and people might have misread the announcement that The Macallan was replacing their travel retail-only (duty free) offerings with no-age statement single malts. The 10, 12, and 15 would be replaced by Select Oak, Whisky Maker’s Edition, and Estate Reserve.
The thread also highlights one important thing everyone should do when you hear rumors – ask the source. In the thread, a representative from Macallan eventually registered and commented that there were no plans to discontinued Macallan 12. It’s the type of thing that I don’t believe they’d lie about just to keep things under wraps.
So, The Macallan 12 is here to stay but don’t go looking for it in duty free, those have long been replaced with travel retail-only bottlings (in 2009).
Hi Jim,
Thanks for the write-up, everything I’ve heard and seen on the net points to the 12 being discontinued in favor of their new NAS line of products. The NAS offerings will allow them to put younger whiskies into their lineup and maximize profits. Not sure if you have a more recent write-up about it than this though.
– My sources:
http://www.masterofmalt.com/whiskies/the-macallan-12-year-old-sherry-wood-whisky/?srh=1
http://www.masterofmalt.com/blog/post/Macallan-to-replace-10-12-and-15-year-old-core-range-with-no-age-statement-single-malt-whiskies.aspx
http://spiritsjournal.klwines.com/klwinescom-spirits-blog/2013/4/29/one-day.html
Interested to hear your thoughts. Slainte!
Hrm… the post on K&L Wine Merchants scares me the most because it’s from a merchant, who you expect to know this stuff inside and out (as opposed to a reporter).
Maybe I’m wrong… or the source from Macallan that posted on the site is wrong. We’ll just have to track this I suppose.
This is scotch, there shouldn’t be this much drama! π
Looks like you were wrong Jim
The Macallan 12 and a few others have been pulled from the LCBO ( Ontario, Canada) in favor of the new NAS line up. The Macallan rep that posted on the Whiskey Mag forum lied through his teeth, as I was at the Macallan tasting in Toronto in June when they premiered their new NAS.
Macallan rep told everyone this had been in the works for a few years.
Hmmmm… that’s what I get for listening to them I guess!
Hi Jim! Now, several moths since this post, can you tell us something definite about this issue?
I think we’re safe, unless you buy duty free… in which case you won’t find Mac12.
They ARE discontinuing McCallan 10, 12 and 15.
I just bought 100 bottles which will soon be worth more than gold.
HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA!!!~!!!!!!
My wife and I were at the distillery in Nov. 2013 for our honeymoon. We were told by the tour guide that the NAS bottlings are replacing the traditional Aged bottlings as their taste master was doing so in favor of offering/bottling a barrel that has reached the appropriate flavoring without the constraints of the year requirements. Hence the focus on the coloring (gold, amber, etc.) i.e Gold Select Oak.
Hmmm… and you can make more of it if you don’t have to wait 12 years because the bottle says 12. π
I think the move to NAS bottlings is driven by profit.
Edrington cannot meet demand with age statement releases. There is a limited amount they can produce under the constraints of age statements. But, by lifting the age statement requirement, they can increase volume considerably and thereby increase profits.
Trouble is the quality of the single malt in my opinion goes down. At least from what I have tasted as of late.
Yes, it’s gone. 10,12,15 and 17 will be replaced with colour-coded labels that reflect the barrels used rather than age. Whilst it is true that taste is subjective, and it may also be true that the new labels will increase sales, this flies in the face a tradition… and tradition is as much a part of Scotch as spring water.
As of December of 2015, I’m finding plenty of Macallan 12 on the shelves, alongside the 10. I’m beginning to think that either the rumors are untrue, or someone at Macallan had a moment of clarity and changed their mind. Any news of this? If it really is phasing out, how long will current stores last?
The Macallan 12, and the rest, are ALL very available, and will NOT be discontinued. Per communication with Masterofmalt.com.
If the Macallan 12 is available, where is it?
It’s not nor has it been available in Canada for the past 4 years. All we get is the 1824 series.
I miss Macallan less and less every month that goes by. It has allowed me to try other bottles that have been Fantastic. Glenfarclas, Glengoyne, Springbank, Balvenie etc….
So long Macallan…….
hi Jay – my husband is a fan of the Macallan 12 but since it’s no longer sold in Ontario, I was hoping to get him something similar-tasting… you mentioned Glenfarclas, Glengoyne etc. but can you recommend a specific bottle/age? Much thanks π
I would say the Glengoyne 18 or the Glenfarclas 17
Cheers and have a very Merry Christmas
Luckily, I was in Hawaii for vacation and popped into this mom and pop liquor store and happened to stumble across two bottles of the 12 Sherry Cask.
I would suggest popping out to the smaller towns with the private liquor stores in an attempt to find the age statement bottles.
I only have 7 bottles of the 12 and 1 bottle of the 18 stashed away. Still trying to squirrel away more every chance I get.
Macallan 12 has totally disappeared in Canada, but it’s still in the States as of October 2016. The good news/bad news is it was on sale and on clearance for $45USD at the location I went to. I probably should’ve stocked up.
I’ve been told by a rep The Macallan 12 is now available in 3 countries only. Scotland, USA and Japan. But it’s changed a little gone from 40% to 43.
In Korea Also. We have 3type of macallan 12 in the store. Macallan Double Cask, Macallan Fine Oak and Macallan Sherry Cask. All of them are 12years those are very easy to find in Korea.
Macallan Double Cask, Macallan Fine Oak and Macallan Sherry Cask 12yo’s 700ml all available at SM stores in the Philippines, with the Sherry Cask about equal to $10 a bottle cheaper than the other two.