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| Hi, this is one of our (almost) daily tastings. Santé! |
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April 6, 2018 |
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Did you notice that I did not write ‘more Mannochmore’? We’re making progress, aren’t we. As for Mannochmore, don’t worry, we won’t have Loch Dhu again today, rather a few new or newish indies, including a wee bunch by the excellent folks at G&M’s… This time we’ll take the strengths into account, not the vintages or ages… While not forgetting that Mannochmore isn’t Brora, let’s remain cooool… |
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Mannochmore 1996/2017 (46%, Gordon & MacPhail, Connoisseurs Choice, refill sherry) 
Colour: gold. Nose: immediately a little burnt, not obligatorily in a bad way. Burnt bread and caramel, over a good deal of herbs and grasses, plus pieces of carbon paper (who remembers carbon paper?) and wee touches of soap, plus something a little mouldy, in a way. Some pipe tobacco, perhaps. Unusual malt whisky… Mouth: rather dry, and more or less on the same kinds of notes, burnt grasses, soot, burnt sugar (Demerara), bitter oranges, orange sweets (or concentrate). One funny baby! Finish: rather long, with this malty bitterness and always a lot of grassiness. The tobacco’s back in the aftertaste, together with a rubbery touch, and then strawberry yoghurt (!) Comments: a funny and interesting baby, and an unusual style that’s becoming a lost art, I would say. Un-commercial malt whisky?
SGP:461 - 79 points. |
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Mannochmore 20 yo 1997/2017 (52.7%, Cadenhead, Single Cask, hogshead, 276 bottles) 
G&M always had some Mannochmore within their ranges, but that’s not totally the case with Cadenhead, so if they selected this one, there must have been something… Colour: straw. Nose: when a tense grassiness works as an asset, provided you’re ready for it. Much sharper and tighter than the 1996, certainly more austere, mineral, and kind of sooty. A very dry and austere nose, I do not detect the slightest hints of sweetness yet. Or perhaps a little bubblegum, but that may be the high strength… With water: moss and even lichens! Mouth (neat): one malt whisky! Extremely grassy indeed, but with bonbony touches as well. Juicy Fruits, liquorice allsorts, orange candies… With water: aniseed comes out, absinth, more orange candies… That’s good, really good. And indeed, unusual. Finish: long, grassier again, a wee tad harsh. Strong green tea. Comments: for lovers of spirit-driven whiskies exclusively. That’s good timing, I’m one of them.
SGP:461 - 85 points. |
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Mannochmore 2006/2017 (59.4%, Gordon & MacPhail, Cask Strength, Taiwan Exclusive, refill sherry, cask #12934) 
This one could be pretty mad… OH and did you notice that the name of the distillery could be that of a doom metal rock band? (or something like that?) Colour: gold. Nose: the 1996 at the power of ten. Massive notes of burnt caramel, pipe tobacco, two boxes of rubber bands, a thimbleful of washing powder (don’t be afraid), and then a meatier development, with some soy sauce mixed with some toffee, and perhaps drops of old heavy Demerara rum. With water: the same kind of faint soapiness as in the 1996 comes out, but it goes away much faster. Fresh concrete. Mouth (neat): very interesting. Cigar tobacco, dried beef, marmalade, clove, soy sauce, and a growing minerality, between chalk and… well, chalk. With water: gets almost civilised, with burnt cakes and certainly more malt. Peanut butter and Ovaltine bars. Finish: long, very malty, with more marmalade and always this very wee rubber. Comments: good beast. And everyone needs a Mannochmore in the cupboard – and that couldn’t be Loch Dhu.
SGP:461 - 83 points. |
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