Mannochmore 11 year old 2008 Signatory UCF, cask 12243

For some of us who got into whisky 10-15 years ago, the Signatory Un-chillfiltered series may be the most influential whisky range. From the low-tech label to the "What is chillfiltered?" and "What do they mean, natural colour?" questions it encouraged, to the opportunity to try distilleries we couldn't otherwise find on the shelves, to the solid quality in every bottle, the UCFs propelled many whisky geeks forward. Sadly this range isn't as available in the US as it used to be, more cask-driven expressions have been introduced, and the metal tubes have been swapped out for more environmentally savvy cardboard replacements. Actually the last part is pretty sharp on Signatory's part, the other two factors less so.

I still snoop around the very few European retailers that offer the UCFs for something interesting, but rarely find anything that piques my whisky curiosity. But somehow, in the Covid-era, a Mannochmore UCF found its way to the United States, and it's very good.

Distillery: Mannochmore
Ownership: Diageo

Region: Speyside (Elgin)

Independent Bottler: Signatory
Range: Un-Chillfiltered Collection

Age: 11 years (17 Sept 2008 - 24 Jul 2020)

Maturation: Hogshead
Cask number: 12243
Outturn: ??? bottles

Alcohol by Volume: 46%
(from a bottle split)

NOTES

The nose starts off all fruits and barley: grapefruit, apricot, peach, and orange pixi stix. The barley element elevates with time, and minor notes of metal and anise drift in the background. It reminds me of late spring.

Lean and lemony, the palate possesses a nice balance of tart and sweet. No vanilla. Hints of horseradish, peppercorns, and barley stay in the back. A bright grapefruit note appears after 30+ minutes.

It finishes lemony, peppery, and warm, with just a hint of vanilla. Like on the palate, the grapefruit arrives later.

WORDS WORDS WORDS

Had I lived in a more scotch-friendly state, I would have picked up a bottle or two of this Mannochmore when it arrived on our shores. It's a spirit-forward whisky, loaded with citrus and stone fruits, plenty of malted barley, and comfortable moreish charm. It's a quaint, though very welcome, style that feels almost mysterious and romantic at this point, and something that the scotch arena could use more of. I hope the Symington warehouses have plenty more of it.

Availability - Might still be around
Pricing - $70?
Rating - 88