“Time”
Whisky Review # 1096
Country: Canada 🇨🇦
Region: Vancouver Island
Brand: Macaloney's Siol Dugall - Medium Peated (27 PPM) - Signature Selection
Type: Canadian Island Single Malt Whisky
Age: NAS
Age: NAS
Alcohol By Volume (ABV): 46%
Maturation: Ex-Bourbon casks (65%), Ex-Portuguese Red Wine casks (10%) and American Virgin Oak (25%)
Maturation: Ex-Bourbon casks (65%), Ex-Portuguese Red Wine casks (10%) and American Virgin Oak (25%)
Sample provided by: Graeme from Canada. Many Thanks!
Chill Filtration: No
Price Range: US$ 65-75 (June 2026)
Chill Filtration: No
Price Range: US$ 65-75 (June 2026)
Price/Quality Ratio: 😐 Acceptable
Buying Advice: 😑 Better go for the Peated Mac Na Braiche
Colour:
Golden with shades of Red and Orange (Natural Colour)
Nose:
Young but not unpleasant. A bit understated. The Peat and Smoke are there but remain in the background. The Nose is a mix of Sweet, Sour, Salty & Burnt notes. It's quite Dry actually and there's a light sharpness of the Alcohol. But it's not bad considering its Youth.
Colour:
Golden with shades of Red and Orange (Natural Colour)
Nose:
Young but not unpleasant. A bit understated. The Peat and Smoke are there but remain in the background. The Nose is a mix of Sweet, Sour, Salty & Burnt notes. It's quite Dry actually and there's a light sharpness of the Alcohol. But it's not bad considering its Youth.
Main Aromas:
Sweet Barley, Sugar, slightly Burnt Buttered Toast, Vanilla, Grass, Fresh Herbs and Flowers, Salted Pork on the BBQ, light Coastal Peat, Distant Campfire Smoke, Ash and Soot, Charred Banana, Lemon, Charred Oak, Cinnamon, Nutmeg and Ginger.
Supportive Aroma Accents:
Honey, Toffee, Syrup, Butterscotch, Cranberry Juice, Sour Apple Cider, Puff Pastry filled with Sweet Walnut puree, Burnt Pine Needles, Fruitcake, Pepper, Cloves, Tea and new Cigar boxes.
Palate:
It's Young, a bit Thin and a little Sharp but it's still my favorite part of this Single Malt. In my opinion it just needs more cask time to become really good. But time is money as you know and that's a burden for all starting distilleries. The palate is following the Nose with a mix of Sweet, Bitter, Sour, Burnt and Salty notes. Quite Dry.
Sweet Barley, Sugar, slightly Burnt Buttered Toast, Vanilla, Grass, Fresh Herbs and Flowers, Salted Pork on the BBQ, light Coastal Peat, Distant Campfire Smoke, Ash and Soot, Charred Banana, Lemon, Charred Oak, Cinnamon, Nutmeg and Ginger.
Supportive Aroma Accents:
Honey, Toffee, Syrup, Butterscotch, Cranberry Juice, Sour Apple Cider, Puff Pastry filled with Sweet Walnut puree, Burnt Pine Needles, Fruitcake, Pepper, Cloves, Tea and new Cigar boxes.
Palate:
It's Young, a bit Thin and a little Sharp but it's still my favorite part of this Single Malt. In my opinion it just needs more cask time to become really good. But time is money as you know and that's a burden for all starting distilleries. The palate is following the Nose with a mix of Sweet, Bitter, Sour, Burnt and Salty notes. Quite Dry.
Main Flavours:
Sweet Barley, Sugar, slightly Burnt Caramel, Vanilla, light Coastal Peat & Distant Smoke, Ashes, Soot, Bacon, Roasted Nuts, Lemon Tea, Charred Oak, Red Berries, Pepper, Ginger and Nutmeg.
Sweet Barley, Sugar, slightly Burnt Caramel, Vanilla, light Coastal Peat & Distant Smoke, Ashes, Soot, Bacon, Roasted Nuts, Lemon Tea, Charred Oak, Red Berries, Pepper, Ginger and Nutmeg.
Supportive Flavour Accents:
Honey, Toffee, Orange, Burnt Straw, Fresh Herbs and Flowers, Fruitcake, Tobacco, Dark Chocolate, Banana, Cinnamon, Cloves, Virgin Oak and a light Metallic note.
Finish:
Honey, Toffee, Orange, Burnt Straw, Fresh Herbs and Flowers, Fruitcake, Tobacco, Dark Chocolate, Banana, Cinnamon, Cloves, Virgin Oak and a light Metallic note.
Middle-Long and Bitter-Sweet. Some Sour and Salty notes as well. The Bitterness increases towards the very Dry end. I find Toasted Grains, slightly Burnt Buttered Toast, Salted slightly Burnt Caramel, Charred Oak, Light Peat and Smoke, Ashes, Soot, Burnt Straw, Dark Chocolate, Raspberry, Lemon, Salted Bacon, Dusty and Charred Oak, Roasted Nuts, Pepper, Ginger, Nutmeg, Cloves and Cinnamon.
Drinking Advice:
Drinking Experience:
Okay/Good
No need to add Water to this Siol Dugall.
Rating: 7 (*******)
Nose: 7 - Taste: 7.5 - Finish: 6.5
*** Important Note with respect to Rating.
If the Final score is above 8 you can safely buy the whisky in question if and when it fits your Aroma/Flavor profile. If the score is between 6 and 8 you might want to try it out in the form of a sample or if offered at a good price. Anything below 6 should be left alone when you are looking for a nice sipping whisky. You might still like it of course & I realize pricing is an important item for many whisky fans especially when you are used to enjoy whisky in a cocktail or a mixed drink.
Okay/Good
Conclusion:
This Island Distillery is equipped with a one ton semilauter Mash Tun, 7 stainless steel wash-backs, a 5500 litre wash still and a 3600 litre spirit still. The first Single Malt was released in December 2020. Part of the Barley is malted on site and the complex also includes a craft beer brewery called TWA Dogs.
This Island Distillery is equipped with a one ton semilauter Mash Tun, 7 stainless steel wash-backs, a 5500 litre wash still and a 3600 litre spirit still. The first Single Malt was released in December 2020. Part of the Barley is malted on site and the complex also includes a craft beer brewery called TWA Dogs.
Potstill whiskies are traditional Irish-Style triple distilled whiskies. Dr. Macaloney, the founder, is a Scot of Irish Heritage who attended the Midleton Irish Whiskey Academy and learned traditional Irish methods a.o. with ex Master Distiller Brian Nation. Back in Canada he then learned to optimize the traditional whisky process following Dr. Jim Swan's methods. The New Make Spirit won many global awards.
Siol means Seed and Dugall is a Scottish clan. The name serves to underline the link between Scotland and Macaloney's. And you can certainly smell & taste these links. Therefore it's fair to say that the future might bring even more praise for this Canadian Island distillery. In my opinion the Spirit only needs more time in the casks to bring out the full potential of this Spirit. Because despite all modern maturation methods nothing beats time and a good cask to produce an excellent Single Malt. Let's hope Macaloney's will walk this path one day!
Cheers, Jan 🥃 June 25, 2026
