Part 6 of Reviews from The Single Cask Singapore
Review by: Whiskery Turnip
Singapore is one of my favorite places to visit, and I leapt at the chance to finally return again during my summer conference schedule. I resolved to do a bit more whisky tasting while I was in the country and use my extended stay to drop by new places and meet new people.
We returned to The Single Cask many times in Singapore; the first time was to check out the place (found in parts 1-4). However, the half dozen other trips, usually just for a dram, resulted from that great first experience. No doubt, the fact that we stayed half a block away for part of the visit and walked by Chijmes, the complex in which the bar sits, just about any time we left the hotel, also played a role.
The staff and owners were terrific; happy to talk whisky, explain the story behind different bottles, share some of their favorites, and offer suggestions for food, fun, or more whisky. I love how whisky brings people together and breaks the ice, especially for someone like me who, if you can believe it, happens to be somewhat introverted and a touch shy when not performing or speaking.
Distillery: Mannochmore
Bottler: The Single Cask Ltd.
Region: Scotland/Speyside Single Malt
ABV: 49.4%. Cask strength.
Age: 11 years. Distilled on 9 Feb. 2011. Bottled on 10 Feb. 2022.
Cask type: First Fill Fino Sherry Octave Finish.
Price: $30/40ml at The Single Cask Singapore.
Nose: Stewed stone fruit, dried berries, cream, pepper, herbal tobacco, sweet creamy coffee, hints of butterscotch with time.
Palate: Medium-bodied, juicy and drying, herbal tobacco, raisins and drying fruit, leathery funk, figs, honey, cream, toffee, coffee, strawberry and balsamic with time.
Finish: Long and lingering, drying and peppery, with cinnamon and dried dates.
Mental Image: Pastry Shop Humidor
Conclusion: The aroma was rich and fruity, with stewed stone fruits and dried berries fronting a peppery spice that ran throughout. Was this jam-making in a humidor? Herbal tobacco spice and oak gradually revealed cream coffee beverages— rich earthy robusta beans and sweetened condensed milk with hints of butterscotch arriving over time. Medium-bodied, juicy, and drying, the flavor profile featured concentrated fruits, cream, and rich caramelized sugars. Tobacco and raisins exploded with an underlying leather funk— as the clouds parted, roasted figs, honey, and clotted cream remained. Dark brown sugar and toffee carried the experience toward sweet coffee desserts, tiramisu roll cake perhaps. Tannic but juicy, strawberry and balsamic were late the develop but carried through to the finish. Long and lingering, the finish was drying and peppery with cinnamon and dried dates.
I am neither a sherry-bomb aficionado nor a Stan heavily cask-driven whiskies— but this was exceptional. Perhaps because the creamy Mannochmore malt still came through and stood up the heady fino cask octave, I thought this was well-balanced and never too aggressive or one-dimensional. The malt and the cask supported one another without overpowering the other— working in tandem rather than struggling for dominance. The flavors were well-structured and integrated, so the whisky moved clearly through distinct layers as the experience slowly changed.
I followed the recommendation of the wonderful folks at the Single Cask Singapore with this malt, which they promised was a bit funky and different. They were absolutely correct, and I was astonished at how much I enjoyed something usually not to my taste. As I explained to a friend, that is either a sign of just how good a sherry-driven malt this was or that it was weird enough to appeal to my palate— or maybe both can be true.
Final Score: 83.
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.
Malt Runners 