Scotch Malt Whisky Society Mannochmore Tasting Notes

Scotch Malt Whisky Society 64.17 1992 (16 year old) ‘Oozes juiciness’ 54.7%

Refill Bourbon Barrel/ Dist: 1992 Btl: 2009/ Tasted: July 2009

The nose is a bottomless pit of honeyed citrus and grass. Some lovely honeycomb, barley and a touch of floral orange fruit emerge. There’s some late natural caramel and buttery oak. Lovely freshness though. Water emphasises the toasting level. It gives the honey a lovely mature sheen as well as bringing out a grainy note.

Soft, oily and full of fleshy yellow fruits, soft spice, honey, caramel-oak and alcohol on the palate. Water makes it a bit watery to be honest. Moderate length. Alcohol sears away the finish! Water makes it quiet grassy. In conclusion –  Lovely nose but the palate is a bit bland and doesn’t stand up to the alcohol.

Mossburn Distillers Mannochmore Tasting Notes

Mossburn Distillers No16 Mannochmore 2008 (10 year old) 56.1%

Bourbon Hogshead/ Batch 16.0708.16

Dist: 2008 Btl: Dec 2018/ Tasted: Jun 2019

A dense, edgy, barley;d and botanical nose with oily vanilla and a touch of lemon, lime, mint and cereal.

The plate is very cereally and young with a touch of apricot and vanilla. Lightly botanical middle and a masked finish which shows some candied orange notes.

With water the nose is softer but still edgy and cerally. Less botanical now and a touch of orange and wood spice has emerged. The palate is a little sweeter as the orange/ tangerine character is more noticeable. It’s also a little confected too. Botanical finish with hints of liquorice root, cassia and anise.

Mossburn Distillers No16 Mannochmore 2008 (10 year old) 56.1%

Batch 16.0708.16

Dist: 2008 Btl: 2018/ Re-Tasted: July 2021

The nose opens with a noticeable alcohol prickle along with barley, white fruit and lime. Subtly floral and quite summery in character with late gooseberry and barley noticeable oak.

The palate is fuller and slightly oilier. It also shows more barley character and less citrus. Hints of straw, apricot, satsuma and apple follow. Masked but softly spiced finish with a touch of oak and granulated sugar.

A drop of water brings out the oils and crystalised lemon/ orange peel. There floral note has become reminiscent of buttercups. The palate is still oily but soft and generous with mouth-filling apricot and vanilla. Long, floral and barley’d with a sprinkling of granulated sugar and spice.

James Eadie Mannochmore Tasting Notes

James Eadie Small Batch Mannochmore 11 year old ‘The Rising Sun’ 46%

3x Re-charred Bourbon Hogsheads – 6280, 6890 & 6892

Dist: 2010 Btl: 2022/ Tasted: Apr 2022

A soft, aromatic and juicy nose of macerated apricot, apple and subtle castor sugar coated barley. With time it develops hints of strawberry, edgy citrus and buttery oak.

The palate is fuller, richer and oilier with plenty of fleshy apricot, barley and hints of honey and granulated sugar. It does become quite sweet but some citrus and green fruit notes emerge to balance. Good length with lemon, grapefruit. apricot and apple notes in the finish.

James Eadie Mannochmore 2008 (11 year old) Pedro Ximinez Finish 56.8%

Single Cask 348032/ First Fill PX Hogshead finish

Dist: July 2008 Btl: 2019./ Tasted: Oct 2019

The nose opens quite citric with edgier herbal dark toffee PX notes. The citrus and minerality of the spirit offsets the sweetness to a certain extent but it’s still very sherry dominated. With time a touch of dusty and sweet cinnamon, clove, raisin, sultana and dried citrus rind emerge along with more treacle and a subtle burnt coffee note.

The palate is quite tannic and dusty with the citrus character keeping the sweetness at bay. Like the nose it’s still very winey and PX dominated with hints of treacle, coffee, heather and raisin. Masked, herbal, winey finish with lingering coffee, treacle, sweet cinnamon, ginger and coriander powder.

Diluted the nose is softer and less complex. Maybe there’s a touch of barley now. The palate is a little bitter with a touch of walnut shell and more emphasis on the citrus, but it’s still a sherry monster.

Global Whisky Mannochmore Tasting Notes

Auld Goonsy’s Mannochmore 2010 (11 year old) 48%

Fist Fill Sherry hogshead finish 8976

Dist: Jun 2010 Btl: 2021/ Tasted: Mar 2022

The nose is quite savoury and meaty with subtle sherried dried fruit and wood char. Sultana, nutmeg, cinnamon and barley appear and the sherry becomes more pronounced with time.

The palate is full, juicy and spicy – nutmeg, cinnamon and sherried dried fruit, wood char and grippy spice. The sherry is definitely dominant on the palate and the finish is long, spicy, grippy and staturated with raisinated fruit and spice (cardamom, nutmeg and ginger).

Auld Goonsy’s Mannochmore 2009 (12 year old) 48.5%

Oloroso Cask Finish 917

Dist: Jan 2009 Btl: 2021/ Tasted: Sept 2021

A rich, juicy and treaclly nose wirh dried fruit and hints of coffee, walnut, moist fruitcake and spice. There’s a touch of barley discernable along with green citrus. A little meaty and cereally. With time a touch of warm toffee.

The palate opens with the treaclly, raisinated fruit. Hints of coffee, bitter tannin, toffee, malt biscuits and spice. Overall the sherry is more dominant than the nose suggests and thus less balanced. Spicy, tart and citris finish with returning dried fruit.

Water brings out sweet orange and tangerine notes. Less sherry now but still toffee’d and biscuity. The palate mirrors the nose. Less sherry, more citrus. A little short now but a pleasantly juicy after-taste.

Auld Goonsy’s Mannochmore 2009 (13 year old) 57.1%

Cask 9321 First Fill Amontillado finish

Dist: Sept 2009 Btl: Apr 2022/ Tasted: Mar 2023

The nose is quite high toned and almost grainy in character. Nutty sherry and succulent sultana appear along with a touch of rose oil. There’s not much in the way of distillery character but the spirit hints at a good weight. Late green nuts and lime sherbet.

The palate is full and nutty with herbal amontillado kicking things off. Green nuts and green tannins on the middle. Masked, tongue ripping finish with a touch of sweet vanilla, coffee and some floral fruit.

With water the nose is slightly floral and aromatic but still very cask orientated. The palate is very much the same. Pleasantly sift and succulent with a long, floral, pot pourri, sweet spice – cinnamon and ginger finish.

The Red Cask Company Mannochmore 2009 (11 year old) 58.5%

Fist Fill Sherry hogshead 5875/ Dist: May 2009 Btl: 2022/ Tasted: Mar 2022

The nose opens with a barrage of toasty oak and winey notes. Dusty spices, redcurrant/berry and edgy spirit notes follow. The fruit develops a sweet edge which attempts to balance the spiritiness.

The palate is soft and again quite winey with hints of redcurrant/berry, tannin and grippy spices. More dried fruit comes through on the palate, was this really a sherry cask? Intense, masked, spicy finish. Very tannic and spicy after-taste.

Water lessens the winey/ sherry notes and brings out barley and subtle citrus. The palate is also less sherried and a lot less spicy. Rather simple now with toasty oak and red fruit finish.

Carn Mor Mannochmore Tasting Notes

Carn Mor Strictly Limited Mannochmore 2010 (8 year old) 46%

Bourbon Hogshead/ Dist: 2010 Btl: 2018/ Tasted: Oct 2018

Aromas of chunky oak and barley with fragrant, fleshy apricot, herbs, creamy vanilla toffee, coffee and a touch of citrus.

The palate opens with the chunky barley and hints of toffee, vanilla and butter. Pretty simple and very oaky. There is a touch of citrus but the palate isn’t as well balanced as the nose. Short and oaky with drying alcohol.

Carn Mor Strictly Limited Mannochmore 2010 (11 year old) 47.5%

Bourbon Hogshead/ Dist: 2011 Btl: 2022/ Tasted: Feb 2022

The nose has an initial subtle creamy vanilla but the spirit is crisp, fresh, slightly grassy and balances the oak. Quite mineral with hints of barley and candied citrus. The abv gives it quite a nose prickle.

The palate opens with the vanilla and toasted toffee, which develops a slightly burnt edge. The barley is a little industrial but the spirit itself is fresh and citric. A little short and grassy with lingering slightly burnt toffee and industrial barley.

Carn Mor Celebration of the Cask Mannochmore 1990 (27 year old) 42.5%

Bourbon Barrel 7431/ Dist: Jun 1990 Btl: Jan 2018/ Tasted: Jan 2018

A slightly taught, mature and straw-like nose, but it also displays a wonderful fruitiness – melon, apple and apricot with a touch of honey, vanilla cream and fills out well. Late sawdusty oak.

The palate is taught and subtly spiced with apricot, unsweetened pineapple, apple and a touch of vanilla cream. Hints of straw and barley come through on the middle as does the oiliness of the spirit. Lovely intensity with a subtle citrus and rose petal finish. Superb combination of maturity and freshness.

Carn Mor Celebration of the Cask Mannochmore 1990 (29 year old) 45%

Bourbon Barrel 10241/ Dist: Sept 1990 Btl: Jan 2019/ Tasted: Apr 2019

A lovely light and mature nose of aromatic barley, apricot, gooseberry and sawdusty American oak. Very citic and a little tart but wonderfully deep, fragrant and vibrant.

The palate is very light, almost to the point of being insubstantial. A touch of mature oak, subtle citrus, mineral and barley appear with the mature oak building and grippy on the middle. The citrus powers through on the finish to make it rather austere and mouth-watering. Some barley notes linger and overall it’s pleasant but not worth £205!

Douglas McGibbon Mannochmore Tasting Notes

Douglas McGibbon Provenance Mannochmore 1999 (14 year old) 46%

Bourbon/ Code: PRV0996/ DMG9766

Dist: Apr 1999 Btl: May 2013/ Tasted: June 2013

A very mineral and citrus nose with hints of barley, grass, light honey and a touch of spice. 

The palate is soft and slightly buttery with a good barley intensity. Hints of soft white fruit, grass and stones come through on the middle. The palate is a lot more interesting than the nose. Good length, again slightly creamy with a citrus and spice finish.

Douglas Laing Mannochmore Tasting Notes

Douglas Laing Old Particular Mannochmore 2007 (12 year old) 48.4%

Refill Bourbon Hogshead/ Code: OLD0871/ DL13780

Dist: Jul 2007 Btl: Dec 2019/ Tasted: Feb 2020

An exceedingly citric nose. Lemon, tamarind, lime and perfumed Viognier-esque peach. Hints f barley, apple, pear and sweet oak follow. A lovely nose if a little too perfumed.

A juicy and voluptuous palate with peach, apricot, pear barley, oak and spice. Lovely intensity although it becomes a bit perfumed on the finish.

Douglas Laing Old Malt Cask Mannochmore 1999 (13 year old) 50%

Refill Bourbon Hogshead/ Code: OMC2217/ DL9230

Dist: April 1999 Btl: Oct 2012/ Tasted: Nov 2012

A light, quite pleasant and typically fresh Speyside nose with hints of grass, slightly sweet barley, malt, pepper and citrus.

The palate is light with some sweetish barley to begin with followed by hints of honey and nuts – Ideal for breakfast with your honey nut cornflakes! A very refreshing citrus laced middle with a slight grassiness. Good length with the citrus lingering along with a late, light creaminess

Scott’s Selection Mannochmore Tasting Notes

Scott’s Selection Mannochmore 1978 (20 year old) 60.3%

Bourbon/ Dist: 1978 Btl: 1998/ Tasted: Mar 2005

A light, aromatic, spirity, grassy nose with hints of earth, citrus fruit, light oil and bourbon oak. The palate is a lot richer than the nose suggests. Quite malty, intense and spirity. Water brings out the sweetness of the fruit and its incredibly spicy character. A long finish with creamy oak and coffee notes.

James MacArthur Mannochmore Tasting Notes

James MacArthur ‘Old Masters Cask Strength Selection’ Mannochmore 1990 (11 year old) 59.8%

Bourbon cask 2755/ Dist: 1990 Btl: 2001/ Tasted: Dec 2006

Quiet a big, rich, malty and vanillery nose. Very oily and dominated by the clean American oak. It develops a delicate grassy note and a touch of leather. Soft and slightly oily on the palate again the vanilla oak takes centre stage, but is supported by spice and cut grass notes. Very intense with a high alcohol content, which obviously requires a drop of water.

It is only then that the distillery character starts to show as the oak is pushed to the background. It shows on a lovely grassyness and complex aromas of garden flowers, spice and pollen (?) and sweet, juicy citrus and mandarin fruit. This is gorgeous, the fruit flavour really linger on the palate.

MacPhail’s Mannochmore Tasting Notes

Gordon & MacPhail ‘Connoisseurs Choice’ Mannochmore 1990 (15 year old) 46%

Refill Sherry/ Dist: 1990 Btl: 2006/ Tasted: June 2011

A soft, textbook, grassy Spey with a background of sherry oak. I’ve encountered more complex bottlings, but it’s pleasantly straightforward in a fleshy fruit way. With time hints of earth and soft, crumbly spice emerge. 

The palate opens with the grassy notes but some burnt caramel encroaches and to be honest the sherry character is a bit on the hard and tannic side. The alcohol hammers the middle and well that puts paid to any further enjoyment. There is a slight spicy and oily, malty note in the finish, but I’m somewhat unmoved.

Gordon & MacPhail ‘Exclusive’ Mannochmore 1993 (21 year old) 48.8%

Exclusive for the Whisky Shop Dufftown 10^th Anniversary

Refill Bourbon Hogsheads/ Dist: Jun 1993 Btl: Apr 2015/ Tasted: July 2016

The nose is beautifully mature and initially very straw-like with barley, brittle honey and hints of pure vanilla. Opens up to show a touch of melon and a fair amount of buttery, dusty oak.

The palate is quite oaky with vanilla, toffee and butter. A touch of crisp citrus and the alcohol balance. Hints of straw-like barley and honey come through on the middle but the toffee’d oak is omnipresent. On the finish the weight of oak grips and bitters, but some sweet malt and barley attempt to counter balance. In conclusion: I think it has spent a little too long in the cask as the oak is overly aggressive and the balance has been a little lost.