You certainly ran into this bottle, in one way or another. Its TV commerical was iconic when we still preferred ding dongs to drams. It’s a Macallan selected by Armando Giovinetti (the Macallan importer at that time) exclusively for the Italian market, particularly focused on young whiskies. Indeed, “Giovinetti” means “young” in Italian, but ok, let’s stop with this silly calembours. It’s obviously a cult bottle, even if at that time it was only an entry level single malt created to be drunk and not for collectors. Anyway, the whisky has been fully matured in ex-sherry casks and it was released in 1985. It was on the market until the 90’s, when Maxxxium succeeded Giovinetti as importer. The 7 yo survived some years more, but the quality dropped dramatically.
N. the sherry maturation flaunts all its red berries’ richness (raspberries, cherries, sultanas). Warm and sugary sherry (blackberry pie, strawberry jam); it even indulges in a creamy side, with pannacotta and caramel, buttery croissant and coffee with milk and sugar. There’s also a gorgeous touch of fragrant and warm oak that makes even sturdier the whisky’s structure. Tamarind, pipe tobacco, wild berries chocolate and dried figues. An olfactory luna park!
P: it perfectly keeps the nose’s promises, showing (at only 40% ABV) a body and a structure difficult to find even in some cask strength malts… The very first sip is all about chocolate and dried figues, followed by an oak show and a sexy dance of nuts (hazelnut is definetely the main character). Again orange marmalade, croissant, wild berries (blackberries), tobacco; the creamier side here is focused on créme caramel. Astonishing coherence, terrific quality.
F: long and persistent, it’s equally divided between oak, malt (brioche) and red fruits.
It’s simply insane how a 7 yo whisky could show this quality, this structure, this body, this complexity. We wish we had a time machine to turn back time when this kind of masterpiece bottles were the boring and usual norm. Waiting for the miracle, for us it’s 90/100.
Recommended soundtrack: Odetta – Baby,I’m in the mood for you
