Review by: The Muskox

Here’s another whisky from my group’s recent tasting. We tasted this Mannochmore next to a 1991 Imperial and a 21-year-old Glenburgie (review pending), both also bottled by Gordon & MacPhail. Out of those three distilleries, Mannochmore is definitely my least favourite, but these old Map Label bottlings can be quite tasty at low proofs.

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Distillery: Mannochmore.

Bottler: Gordon & MacPhail.

Region: Speyside.

ABV: 40%, cask strength.

Age: 13 years old. Distilled in 1984. Bottled in 1997.

Color: Colour added, chill-filtered.

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Nose: Old sherry. Dark fruit, leather, candied nuts, and black tea. Dried orange peels and dried ginger. Buttery chocolate cookies. Earthy dunnage and evergreen trees.

Palate: Slightly thin texture. Arrives with plums, stonefruit, orange, and butterscotch. Develops to more dried fruit, very rich butterscotch, varnished oak, some rosemary. Dark chocolate.

Finish: Thin. Earthier here. Toasted nuts and leather. Dried cranberries and some peach slices. Less toffee than the palate. Slight algae lingering.

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Possible SMWS bottling name: “Esteemed teatime spread”

Notes: The attraction here is getting a taste of real old-school sherry casks. This dram delivers on that – the flavours are deep and complex, very different in style from what’s being bottle today. The 40% ABV is a bummer, and keeps this whisky from being much better than “quite good”.

Final Score: 80.

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Scoring Legend:

• 95-100: As good as it gets. Jaw-dropping, eye-widening, unforgettable whisky.
• 90-94: Sublime, a personal favorite in its category.
• 85-89: Excellent, a standout dram.
• 80-84: Quite good. Quality stuff.
• 75-79: Decent whisky worth tasting.
• 70-74: Meh. It’s definitely drinkable, but it can do better.
• 60-69: Not so good. I might not turn down a glass if I needed a drink.
• 50-59: Save it for mixing.
• 0-49: Blech.