Macallan 18: what it is and where to buy in Westford

Macallan 18 is a Speyside single malt Scotch whisky aged at least 18 years, and CBC Liquors in Westford carries the Macallan 18 Year Sherry Oak. This guide covers what the age statement means, how it tastes, how to serve it, and how to get a bottle from us.

Where can you buy Macallan 18 in Westford?

You can buy it at CBC Liquors, 142 Littleton Rd, Westford, MA 01886. We carry MACALLAN 18 Year Sherry Oak, and the full Macallan range we stock is on one brand page, so you can see the 18 next to the other bottles.

We are open Sunday 10:00 AM to 8:00 PM, Monday to Thursday 10:00 AM to 9:00 PM, and Friday and Saturday 10:00 AM to 10:00 PM. Pickup runs on the same hours as the store.

Our Google rating is 4.7 out of 5 from 339 reviews. If you want to be sure a particular bottle is on the shelf before you drive over, look at the product page first, or ask when you come in.

What is Macallan 18 Sherry Oak?

It is a single malt Scotch whisky from Macallan, a distillery in Speyside, Scotland. Single malt means the whisky comes from one distillery and is made from malted barley. Sherry Oak is the name of the line, and it refers to the casks the whisky is matured in: oak that has previously held sherry, with the casks coming from Spain.

That cask choice shapes the style. Whisky matured in sherry-seasoned oak tends to pick up colour and flavours of dried fruit, spice and wood that you do not get from plain refill casks. The 18 Year Sherry Oak is bottled at 43% alcohol by volume, which is a standard strength for an aged Scotch of this kind.

If you are browsing by category, it sits with the other bottles in Scotch, which is part of our wider whiskey section.

What does the 18 year age statement mean?

The number on the label is the age of the youngest whisky in the bottle. A bottle marked 18 years can contain older whisky, but nothing younger than 18 years. Time is counted only while the spirit is in the cask. Once it is bottled, it stops ageing.

This is why age statements matter to people who buy single malt. Eighteen years in oak is a long time, and the whisky usually shows it in a rounder, softer feel than a 12 year old. The wood has had longer to work, so the sharper edges of young spirit have had time to settle.

An age statement tells you how long the whisky matured. It does not tell you whether you will like it. Two 18 year old whiskies from different distilleries can taste quite different.

What does Macallan 18 taste like?

Sherry-matured Speyside malts are usually described with dried fruit such as raisin and orange peel, warm spice such as ginger and cinnamon, and a layer of oak and dark chocolate. That is the general character of the style, and it is what many people look for in the Sherry Oak line.

Expect a whisky that is rich rather than sharp. At 43% it is not especially hot, so the flavours come through without much effort. Tasting notes are personal, so treat any description as a guide rather than a promise.

If you have not tried a sherry-cask whisky before, the 18 is a considered place to start, though it is an older, more serious bottle than the entry-level expressions. You may prefer to try a younger one first, which is covered below.

How should you drink Macallan 18?

Neat is the usual way. Pour a small measure into a tulip-shaped glass or a small snifter. The narrow top of the glass gathers the aroma, which is a large part of the pleasure with an aged malt.

Give it a minute to open up, then smell it before you taste it. If it feels strong, add a few drops of room-temperature water, which can loosen the flavours. Ice will mute them, so most people leave it out with a bottle like this.

It is a whisky to sip slowly, in company or at the end of a meal. A square of dark chocolate or a few nuts goes well with sherry-cask flavours. Keeping it for a mixed drink would cover up what you are paying for.

How does the 18 compare with the other Macallans we carry?

The Macallan line at CBC Liquors has several bottles at different ages and cask styles, so you can choose by how much you want to spend on a single bottle and what style you like.

At 12 years, MACALLAN 12 Year Sherry Oak uses the same sherry-cask approach as the 18, just younger. MACALLAN 12 Year Double Cask is matured in a mix of cask types, and MACALLAN 15 Year Double Cask sits between the 12 and the 18 in age.

If you like a higher strength, MACALLAN 110 Proof 12 Year Sherry is bottled at a higher proof than the standard bottlings. For something presented as a set, look at the MACALLAN Harmony Collection.

A sensible way to choose is to decide first whether you want the sherry style, then pick the age. The 18 is for someone who already knows they like it, or who is buying for that person.

How do you store an open bottle?

Keep the bottle upright, because whisky at 43% can wear down a cork over time if it sits on its side. Store it out of direct sunlight and away from heat, in a cupboard or on a shelf where the temperature stays fairly steady.

Once opened, a bottle that is still well filled will hold its character for a long time if the stopper is tight. As the level drops and more air sits in the bottle, flavours slowly fade, so a bottle that is nearly empty is best finished in a sensible time.

There is no need to refrigerate it. Room temperature suits the glass and the whisky.

Can you get Macallan 18 by pickup, delivery or shipping?

CBC Liquors offers pickup, delivery and shipping in addition to walking in. Pickup hours match the store hours. Delivery hours are Sunday 10:00 AM to 7:30 PM, Monday to Thursday 10:00 AM to 8:30 PM, and Friday and Saturday 10:00 AM to 9:30 PM.

We also serve Chelmsford, Carlisle, Littleton, Acton, Tyngsborough, Lowell, Billerica, Boxborough and Dunstable. You can see where delivery reaches on our delivery areas page, and read about our shipping policy before you order.

If you are coming from Lowell or Chelmsford, the town pages show how delivery works for you. Anyone receiving alcohol must be 21 or older.