Even though it’s not a high-end distillery, the name Mannochmore always gets me interested. The few expressions I’ve had were really good and I though the Mannochmore 18 Years from the 2009 Special Releases was pretty great.
This year there is a Mannochmore 25 Year Old from the same distillation year 1990. The distillery was built to partner Glenlossie and only began production in the 1970s. Very few old casks remain. It is a mix of first-fill bourbon barrels, new American oak barrels and new and ex-bodega European oak sherry butts.
Mannochmore 25 yo 1990 (53,4%, OB 2016, Special Release, 3954 btl.)
Mannochmore 25 yo 1990 (53,4%, OB 2016, Special Release, 3954 btl.)Nose: rather ethereal. A big waft of freshly polished oak, or an oil painting that has just been varnished. Leathery notes, marshmallows, hints of baked apples, bananas flambéed and vanilla. Some exotic hints of sandalwood. Mentholated notes. Candied orange peel. Behind this there are raspberries and sour cherries. A hybrid of Scotch and bourbon, with most of its profile taken from new wood.
Mouth: peppery and sweet. Blackberries, orange peel and ripe banana. Hints of burnt vanilla and dried coconut. Light resinous touches from the wood, alongside ginger and clove. Again really oak-driven but not without a fruity core.
Finish: long, minty, oaky, with a bittersweet warmth.
This Mannochmore feels pretty much like a virgin oak experiment and it’s quite successful at that. Very good, even without a (classic) sherry influence, but the previous edition found a better balence. Around € 350.
Score: 88/100