N: Gentle, rich and buttery. The sherry influence is profound but not overbearing. A gentle hint of raisins, a ton of toffee. Slow to open up but revealing gentle spice. Smells like Thanksgiving to Christmas. Chocolate and soft grain. Old, old, worn wood. 

P: Thick, warming to a degree that belies age or ABV, with cinnamon and pepper. Toffee, hints of maple syrup, nutmeg and harvest spices. Wood paneling in the distance.

F: Slow, easing off the warmth of the palate, retains its sweetness, lasting and rich. Toffee continues, sherry influence. Wood is present but not overbearing.

It's really easy drinking and pretty good. That said, it's not amazing - it's lost a lot of the vitality of younger Macallans. I can see this being a great holiday season pick where you nurse it all evening by a fireplace. In that situation, it could be the right fit for the mood and situation. But on its own, judged solely as a whisky and not as an accessory to an imaginary Christmas Eve, it's good but not great.