Wine name: Macallan three-barrel rebrew (15 years) (right)
Sulongghu (Solange flower) three-barrel rebrew (6 years) (left)
Alcohol content: 43% Vol
Price: 2180 RMB/bottle (right)
RMB 698/bottle (left)
Chinese drinkers like to use the concept of "benchmarking" when drinking, and many drinkers have asked me, which of the three Chinese whiskies can be compared to Scotch whisky?
These three Chinese whiskies are similar to Scotch whisky in raw materials and barrel processes, but the fermentation and distillation processes are different, so there is a difference in strict benchmarking, but since it is everyone's habit, I went to find a liquor that can be benchmarked.
The first thing I was looking for was three barrels of rebrewing. Scotch three-barrel rebrewed whisky is relatively rare in the domestic market, and after looking for a long time, only this Macallan 15-year-old three-cask rebrew was found. This 15-year-old three-barrel rebrew uses three oak barrels: European oak barrels, American shirley barrels and American bourbon barrels. Chinese whisky Sulongghu uses three kinds of oak barrels, French oak barrels, Spanish PX sherry barrels and American bourbon barrels, which were entered in 2016 and filled in 2022, and aged in oak barrels for 6 years. The alcohol content of both wines is the same, both are 43% Vol. The price difference between the two wines is relatively large, the Macallan is 2180 yuan / bottle, Sulongghu is 698 yuan / bottle.
I have hesitated several times to compare this bottle of McCarran 15 years old with Sulongghu, because its vintage is indeed higher, compared to 15 years and 6 years, the difference between the vintage is very large, maybe the wine is also very different, and the price is also much different, and the comparability may not be so strong. But after a few trips to the supermarket, I didn't find a similar three-barrel rebrew in other brands, so I bought a 15-year-old three-barrel rebrew from McAllen and prepared to compare. After buying it back, I didn't expect that I was "two yang", I couldn't drink for nearly three weeks, and when the symptoms were mild, I went to the supermarket, and found Macallan 12-year-old three-barrel rebrew in a supermarket, which was cheaper, only more than 780 yuan. I have some regrets, I should buy 12 years of three-barrel rebrew for comparison, so that it is more comparable, but I have bought 15 years, let's compare it first.
The first is color observation. The colors of the two wines look closer in the bottle, and when poured into the glass, they are also closer, both are light gold wheat straw color. This surprised me a little, the color of 15-year-old wine should be heavier than that of 6-year-old wine, and I speculate that there may be more whiskey in bourbon barrels, and the color of the original wine in bourbon barrels is not heavy.
From the back of the bottle, you can clearly see that the colors of the two wines are relatively close
The second is to smell the incense. When smelled, the Macallan has an absolute advantage, with a high aroma, and the floral aroma of the foreground is obvious, fruity and cinnamon. The aroma is richer in the mouth, with raisins, citrus, and chocolate. For Chinese drinkers, this aroma can be generally classified as the aroma of wooden barrels, simply put, its wooden barrel aroma is high and rich. Simply smelling, in contrast, Sulongghu's aroma is much lower, with floral and fruity aromas and a faint pea aroma, but much lower than that of McAllen. But after the mouth, the aroma of Sulongghu suddenly blooms like an explosion in the mouth, pea aroma is the strongest, floral and fruity aroma, repeated feeling, there is honey and steamed wheat, and a slight roasted aroma. Both wines have similar aromas and structure. Overall, The Macallan's fresh floral and fruity aroma is higher than that of Sulongghu.
Because I have participated in the selection and blending of Sulongghu, I know that the ratio of Sulongghu is roughly 50% of whisky in bourbon barrels, 25% each in sherry barrels and French oak barrels. In terms of aroma and color, I speculate that the proportion of Bourbon barrel-aged whisky in Macallan's 15-year-old three-barrel rebrew is higher than that of Sulongghu, which should be more than 70%. The floral and fruity aroma of bourbon barrel-aged whisky is more pronounced.
The third is taste and taste. The Macallan's 15-year-old three-barrel rebrew looks light in the mouth, which is a bit like a slightly older wine, but with a slightly bitter aftertaste; And Sulongghu has an extremely rich mouth, sweet aftertaste, longer than McAllan.
Since I know the difference in craftsmanship between the two wines, it may be the effect of psychological cues, and I think it is obvious in the taste that Sulongghu is a solid wine and has the feeling of drinking solid substances, while the Macallan is a liquid wine and softer. This may be caused by strong psychological hints, if there are drinking friends who are also interested in making comparisons, welcome to share their feelings?
The drinking sensation of both wines is also smooth, and the wine is smooth, and both belong to the kind of wine that can be drunk too much before you know it.
The fourth is somatosensory sensation. SulongghuI have drunk it many times, within three taels (5 ounces), there is no problem with comfort; I've drunk more than half a bottle of The Macallan's other wines, and I don't have any problems with comfort, and presumably this wine is no problem. The two wines were mixed together, and a total of nearly 6 ounces were drunk, and overall the physical comfort was good. Therefore, I judge that both wines belong to the relatively comfortable level.
Fifth, summary.
1. The aromas of these two wines have their own characteristics. McKellen's front taste is high and pleasant; The Sulongghu has a low front taste, which is a weakness, but its middle and aftertaste, that is, the intensity after the mouth is no worse than that of the Macallan.
2. In terms of taste, I personally think that Sulongghu is slightly better, its richness and structure, as well as the freshness of the back to Gander, are much better than The Macallan.
3. The two wines have a similar feel.
4, the similarity of the two whiskies is still relatively high, to be honest, I did not feel the obvious difference between the two in the age of wine, according to the difference in wine age is 9 years, the taste should have a more obvious difference, but I really feel that the difference is not too big, after drinking 1 ounce each, the two wines already have a sense of indifference.
5. Through the above comparison, I think the level of these two wines is between half a pound and eight taels, and Bozhong. If you are more focused on taste and taste, then choose Sulongghu; If it's more aromatic, choose McAllen.
If Sulongghu uses this Macallan as a benchmark to adjust the aroma, it may be easier to do it, as long as you adjust the proportion of bourbon barrel whiskey, it is estimated that the aroma of smell will also be greatly improved.
After this comparison, I don't think it's necessary to buy McAllen's 12-year-old three-barrel rebrew, because 15-year-old wine is comparable to Sulongghu, 12-year-old will definitely be a little worse than 15-year-old, and it doesn't make much sense to compare with Sulongghu. Tasting Notes: Sulongghu benchmarked Macallan for 15 years – also Triple Cask added 18202991745 invited to join the Lixun exchange group