...where distraction is the main attraction.

Monday, October 25, 2021

Mannochmore 10 year old 2001 SMWS 64.31

I spilled half of this sample on my pants, chair and carpet. So of course it turned out to be (SPOILER ALERT) good whisky. Out of the 1600+ pours I've set out for this blog, somehow I've spilled only two. That is eerie. I'm a complete klutz, and alcohol does not sharpen hand-eye coordination. So I should have upended at least two hundred full glasses by now. Whisky's gods, spirits, kami, prophets, divinities, and brand reps must be watching over me.

Also, it's Mannochmore Week on Diving for Pearls.

Distillery: Mannochmore    
Ownership: Diageo
Region: Speyside (Lossie)
Independent Bottler: Scotch Malt Whisky Society
Age: 10 years (April 2001 - 2012)
Maturation: first fill bourbon barrel
Cask#: 64.31
Cask "name": "A stunner for its age"
Outturn: 237 bottles
Alcohol by Volume: 61.9%
(from a bottle split)

NOTES

The nose is a mix of pretty things. Oranges and paprika. Mango and roses. Vanilla, white chocolate and shortbread. It gets simpler and hotter when reduced to 46%abv, focusing on rosewater, lemon candy and white chocolate.

The palate starts out malty, almost chocolatey. Clementines, limes and flower blossoms ride through the middle- to background, with the tartness balancing out the sweetness. It loses its mojo at 46%abv, where it's just minerals, pepper and sweet malt.

It finishes with sweet and tart citrus, from lemon candy to grapefruit. A little bit malty in the background as well. At 46%abv, the finish matches the diluted palate.

WORDS WORDS WORDS

Though far from a "stunner", this Mannochmore was a lot of fun, with its maltiness and fruitiness as highlights. It came from an interesting cask, a stingy one considering the outturn and ABV. It wouldn't let go of its contents. With vanilla already present in the whisky's nose, ten years may have been its best bottling point. Though I'm not usually a fan of >60%ABVs, the strength works well here, and I prefer it at full power. I regret having shared this with the carpet.

Availability - ???
Pricing - ???
Rating - 86 (neat)