Mannochmore 23 Years Old 1990 64.51 Tuck-time in a stately home (55.8%, SMWS, Refill Bourbon Barrel, 187 Bottles, 2013)

• 55.8%,
• £87.20
• Score: 85/100

What they say:

The nose, with polished wood, oiled cricket bats and flowers, was like entering a stately home – once inside we were offered Moffat toffees, Turkish Delight, Crunchie Bars, Jammy Dodgers, Bounty Bars, marzipan petit-fours and apple strudel – delicious tuck! The palate had unexpected ginger heat, liquorice and oak – but also delivered sweetness (After Eights, cola cubes, vanilla, golden syrup, ice-lolly sticks) – a very pleasant combination. The reduced nose suggested fresh-baked pain au raisin, custard, ginger Edinburgh Rock, Berwick Cockles, lychees, honeysuckle and lavender. The palate was sweetly perfumed with apricots, light woody tannins, tobacco and menthol. Diageo distillery built in 1971.

Drinking tip: Quite a summery dram – maybe for a hip flask, while watching cricket on the village green.

Date Distilled: 14 February 1990 Colour: Gingery gold Age: 23 years  Flavour : Juicy, oaky & vanilla Cask Type: Refill ex-bourbon barrel Whisky Region: Speyside Lossie

What I say:

A 23 year old bottling from Mannochmore (SMWS distillery #64) by the Scotch Malt Whisky Society, sampled at the Homecoming Glasgow Whisky Festival in May 2014

Colour:

Amber Gold

Nose:

Sweet putty/linseed oil, leather/suede, fruity, almond, coconut, wood polish

Taste:

Sweet cinnamon bubblegum, a little spice, waxy, fruity, nutty walnut and pecan, honey and maple syrup, figs, wood polish

Finish:

Long woody and figgy

Would I buy it:

Very impressed with this dram and hadn’t previously sampled anything from Mannochmore. While I am not a member of the SMWS I am coming closer and closer to joining, especially after sampling cracking drams like this. Admittedly the pricing maybe a little steep though the age and strength and sheer pleasure contained in this particular bottle almost make the pricing seem sensible. Plus it is getting less and less frequent we try new distilleries these days so happy to tick the Mannochmore box and very keen to try more if this expression is anything to gauge it by.