Two young high-flying Mannochmore


May 31, 2022

Two young
high-flying Mannochmore

Another slightly obscure Distillery (no references to Loch Dhu here, I promise) that we like to taste every once in a while, even if it's not a pretty one. Mind you, it was built in 1971, while Edward Heath was the PM, and has then been working rather intermittently for many years. (The Telegraph)

Mannochmore 11 yo 2010/2021 (55.7%, Fable Whisky, Chapter Five, Hound, hogshead, cask #4880, 308 bottles)

No further comments about these original labels that we like so much. Colour: white wine. Nose: hyper chalky and lemony, totally raw, with some cut grass then. As we often write – maybe too often – it's got the purity that's to be found in Sancerre's purest sauvignons blancs. As we also sometimes write, it would cut you into halves (enough, S.) With water: raw wool, new sweater, plaster, fern, porridge…. Mouth (neat): a little hot and spirity at this point, but there's almost no need to add any water to find out about what's going to happen once water's been added (gee…) With water: pretty perfect, full of lemon liqueur, with green tea, more chalk, sourdough bread and green orange. Once again, wonderful purity. Finish: rather long, on pretty much the same notes. This hogshead was a quiet star. Comments: there was a 12 yo 2008 by Fable Whisky that was even better in my opinion, but this one's almost perfect. To be cellared for sure.
SGP:551 - 88 points.

Mannochmore 13 yo 2008/2022 (53.6%, The Whisky Agency, barrel, 203 bottles)

I find it rather interesting that The Whisky Agency would have bottled a young Mannochmore; I would suppose something's been happening with this barrel. Colour: light gold. Nose: obviously similar, but this one's also got waxes and oils, on top of the lemony chalkiness. Avocado flesh, wee whiffs of cold hibiscus tea… With water: paraffin, lady's hand cream, citron and lemon, chalk… Mouth (neat): amazing. All-fruit cocktail (citrus first, also papaya and mango) with a little grated ginger on top of it. Not even the tiny touches of coconut become a problem. With water: pure fruity goodness, this one takes you straight to Kuta beach. Finish: rather long, fruity, superb, with maybe, I said maybe, a little too much coconut from the barrel. Nit-picking again. Comments: good, I'd have gone to 90 without the coconut. Dura Lex, sed Lex.
SGP:641 - 89 points.

These ones are proper star killers, I don't see any first-names from Speyside capable of beating them at a similar age.

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