Searching for Macallan 12: A Journey from Bohol to a New Bar

Whisky Journey

Searching for the "Rolls-Royce": My Macallan 12 Anticipation

"There's something even better than Balvenie," she said.

That one sentence sparked a fire in my heart. After the sweet, honey-filled revelation of Balvenie 12, I couldn't imagine anything being "better" or "smoother." But the name she mentioned was legendary: Macallan.

The Bottle Dilemma: Why We Stayed Patient

To be clear, buying Macallan 12 in a liquor shop wasn't hard at all; the bottles were readily available on the shelves. The real issue was our drinking habits. Neither my girlfriend nor I drank very often, and we still had plenty of Balvenie 12 left at home.

Committing to a whole new bottle of Macallan 12 just to satisfy my curiosity felt like an unnecessary leap. We wanted to experience it by the glass first. However, in almost every bar we visited, Macallan 12 was strictly sold by the bottle rather than as a single dram. Because of this, the taste of the legendary "Rolls-Royce of Whiskies" remained an untested mystery.

A Detour in Bohol, Philippines

That lingering curiosity followed us on our vacation to Bohol, Philippines. Since we couldn't find a place to try a single glass of Macallan back home, my girlfriend decided to look for a budget-friendly alternative at a local store near our resort.

She wanted to introduce me to a different 12-year-old single malt—something that was cheaper than Balvenie but still promised a decent profile. Since I was still completely ignorant about whisky brands at the time, I didn't even memorize its name.

We poured a glass in our room with high hopes, but... it was a disappointment. Compared to the rich, smooth Balvenie I remembered, the aroma was completely flat, and the alcohol burn was much harsher. This failed experiment only made my soul crave that missing Macallan experience even more.

The Unexpected Invite

We returned home from the Bohol trip, the taste of disappointment still fresh in my memory. Just as I was wondering when I'd finally get to taste the legendary dram, a message arrived from an old friend (Hyung).

"I'm opening a new bar. We're having a soft opening in a few days. Come over."

Could this be the moment? Would I finally meet the legend?