Naming a whisky'Magnifico', you have to be pretty confident that what you have is spectacular. And Samaroli were completely justified in giving this 33-year-old Macallan bottling that cocksure moniker. Distilled at Macallan in 1989, this masterpiece was filled into Cask No. 1219, an ex-Bourbon barrel. It remained there for more than three decades, before being bottled in Scotland in 2022. The cask yielded just 137 precious bottles of this roughly 33-year-old Scotch, meaning there are very few to go around. Macallan is famed for its Sherry influence, so this pure Bourbon cask expression feels like a breath of fresh air. Elegance is the name of the game here, with silky notes of heather honey, juicy pear, crunchy green apple, vanilla and Scandinavian liquorice. The balance of maturity and vigour is mesmerising, creating a rare treat for the senses. Magnificent!"Macallan is the daddy, as far as legendary whiskies go,"so says whisky expert Ian Buxton. This Speyside behemoth enjoys huge global demand, perfectly illustrated by a 30-year-old cask breaking auction records when it sold for $375,000 (US) in Hong Kong. Deservedly so, it remains the aficionado's choice when it comes to Scotch. Samaroli is the name on every true spirit connoisseur's lips. This legendary Italian independent bottler is known for its rare, unique and aesthetically stunning whiskies and rums, many of which smash records at auction. Established as an importer in 1968 by Silvano Samaroli, they became one of the first bottlers to champion cask strength showing just how far ahead of the game they are. And that's why the experts at Malt Maniacs and Whisky Fun rank them as their Number 1 bottler. Never afraid to innovate, Samaroli regularly buys casks and re-cask them into new oak to create something completely different to what you might get direct from the distillery. They go as far as to say:"Do not ask us for brand standards and for the same shopping options, it would be like asking a painter to paint always the same painting."This added value approach coupled with the exceptional quality and eye-catching pastel designs makes every bottle a one-of-a-kind release. Although Silvano sadly passed away in 2017, the mantle has been passed to Antonio Bleve, Francesco Saverio Benetti and their highly passionate team in Rome, and their incomparable artistry continues undeterred.£928.57 per 100.00ml