Mac-Talla Pedro Ximenez Fèis Ìle 2023 Review
For Feis Ile 2023, Morrison Scotch Whisky Distillers released a Mac-Talla whisky matured in Pedro Ximenez sherry casks. It’s a no age statement, peated whisky that was selected from 26 casks of Islay single malt with Pedro Ximenez sherry influence. My assumption is this means these 26 whiskies were matured in Pedro Ximenez sherry casks and were then blended together before bottling. It was made available for sale on June 1, 2023.
For those unfamiliar with Mac-Talla whisky, it is produced by Morrison Scotch Whisky Distillers. At one point, the Morrison family owned of the Bowmore distillery on Islay before it was acquired by Beam Suntory in 1994. Their distillery that produces Mac-Talla launched in 2017, and Mac-Talla whisky first arrived in 2021 with its Terra and Mara whiskies.
The only other Mac-Talla whisky I have had before this is the Red Wine Barriques release from 2022. I remember the whisky was good but not great, but I do love my Pedro Ximenez-matured whiskies. It was hard to not give this one a try despite not starting off on the right foot.
Given its price, accessibility, and cask type, I am hoping this release makes me a Mac-Talla fan moving forward.
The Basics
Aged: Unknown
Bottles available: Unknown
Casks: Pedro ximenez sherry
ABV: 54.6%
Color: Copper
Nose: Plum, smoke, salt, jerky
Cost: $160
Purchased at: The Whisky Exchange
Taste
The first sip gives you a heavy dose of plum flavor followed by a light tastes of raisin and cinnamon. It finishes with stronger cinnamon flavor, a nice amount of peat, and some cherry. It’s not the peatiest whisky, and it is certainly a lighter whisky that balances all the flavors pretty well.
The sherry flavor is not a strong as other Pedro Ximenez whiskies, such as the Laphroaig Cairdeas 2021, but you still get plenty of sweeter flavors and very nice transitions from flavor to flavor as you imbibe.
Neat or With Water
I preferred drinking this whisky neat. I found adding water enhanced the smoky flavor of the whisky while subduing the sweeter dried fruit and spice flavors. You also get very little burn from the alcohol despite the higher 54.6% ABV.
Summary
Accessibility: In the United States, it will probably be hard to find this whisky in stores. Your best bet is to buy through online retailers like The Whisky Exchange or Master of Malt. I have yet to see this whisky appear in auctions.
Price: This whisky is not particularly expensive if you live in the United Kingdom or mainland Europe. Where it gets expensive with this whisky is shipping to the United States. On the low end, I have seen this whisky sell for $90 and $194 on the high end without factoring in shipping and taxes. For the $160 I paid, I feel that is a pretty fair deal for getting this whisky when considering shipping to the United States as part of the price.
Quality: I really enjoyed the sweet first taste of this whisky and how well it transitions between the traditional flavors that come from a Pedro Ximenez cask. It’s not as sweet as other Pedro Ximenez-matured whiskies I have tried, but it still works well. I personally wanted the sherry flavor to come through a bit stronger, but it may be just right for those who want a whisky that offers sweeter flavor without being overwhelmed by it.
Score: 7/10 (See our scoring system explanation)
This whisky reminds me a lot of the debate I usually go through every year between two beers I enjoy from my hometown of Cleveland, Ohio. Those beers are the Great Lakes Brewing Company Christmas Ale and Market Garden Brewery Festivus. The Great Lakes Christmas Ale is an incredibly flavorful and heavier beer while the Festivus is a lighter beer that still offers a similar flavor profile. I believe this Mac-Talla whisky is more similar to the Festivus than the Great Lakes Christmas Ale. Some people find one too sweet and heavy, and some find the other to be not flavorful enough. I personally am a fan of both. Using the same logic that I use to evaluate these two beers, I am also a fan of this light, sweet whisky.
For those who appreciate the flavors of a Pedro Ximenez-matured whisky but who also want the flavors to be turned down a notch, this is a very nice whisky for you. It is very smooth and easy to drink despite its higher ABV, and it is not one you necessarily need to break the bank for.
That said, if you live in the United States, the shipping costs associated with this whisky make it difficult to recommend over other whiskies. I would much rather get something like the Lagavulin Distillers Edition or Laphroaig Cairdeas 2021 for a much lower price. If this whisky were easier to find in the United States, I would consider getting another bottle. However, at its current price with shipping, it’s not one I will actively seek out over other whisky options.