
June 16, 2017

Little sessions, today Mannochmore

Glenlossie’s close cousin, Mannochmore, is a relatively recent distillery (1971) and I wouldn’t say it’s much talked about within the chatting circles. Especially since everybody’s now forgotten about Loch Dhu 10…

Mannochmore 12 yo (43%, OB, Flora and Fauna, +/-2005)

Already tried this baby, but wrote very meagre tasting notes. Colour: white wine. Nose: there’s a chalky grassiness at first, then more lemons and green apples, as well as touches of Provence melons, which cannot not remind us of Bruichladdich. In fact, it’s becoming immensely melony, this is quite spectacular. In the background, just touches of linseed oil, and perhaps orange blossom water. But this melon! Mouth: well, there sure is a little melon again, but there are more pears and apples, and then bags of cereals, barley, almond paste, earl grey tea, and in the back, a little chalk and more linseed oil. Soft citrus, perhaps citron liqueur. Finish: medium, a tad spicier. Comments: this one from an old opened bottle, so it may have benefitted from breathing. And no, I don’t store my bottles near the melon stash. Wow, this melon! SGP:641 - 83 points.

Mannochmore 28 yo 1988/2016 (46%, The Whisky Agency for La Maison du Whisky, hogshead, 225 bottles)

Mannochmore 28 yo 1988/2016 (46%, The Whisky Agency,, hogshead, 225 bottles)

Colour: straw. Nose: it’s very fruity! No varnish this time, no nail polish, rather marshmallows aplenty and a rather perfect maltiness, plus green branches and leaves. It’s rather sharp, ‘nervous’, and kind of delicate at the same time. Wulong tea, kiwis, rhubarb… There’s an obvious parentage with the F&F, but this is rather deeper. Old age, I suppose… Mouth: very good, green-fruity, with more kiwis, more grapefruits, and indeed more rhubarb, greengages… It’s got a perfect acidic side, very refreshing, and you don’t even need to add ice. Perfect body. Finish: rather long, superbly acidic and green. And wait, in the aftertaste, some green melons! Comments: an uplifting Mannochmore, and quite bizarrely, the exact opposite of Loch Dhu. Do you know Loch Dhu? Do you know Rosebank? SGP:651 - 87 points.

Check the index of all Mannochmore I've tasted so far