Mannochmore 18 YO 1999 Gordon & MacPhail Connoisseurs Choice

Mannochmore 18 YO 1999 Gordon & MacPhail Connoisseurs Choice

Highland Single Malt

18 YO

46% ABV/92 Proof

Eye: Light liquid gold, thin rims and thin, slow legs.

Nose: Lemon madeleines. Bitter citrus, like pink grapefruit. Fruits keep going, roasted aromas develop with air.

Palate: Tongue tingling and oily, rolls through the palate with force. Cocoa in the background. Roasted vegetables and nuts develop with air and really open up on the finish. Mouthfeel is coating, oily, light-to-medium bodied.

Finish: Finish is lingering and light, carries the roasted notes all the way.

Overall: Mannochmore is one of those distilleries that skims under the radar, mostly making blending whisky for other distilleries’ products. It’s exceedingly rare to taste this on its own, despite its proximity to Elgin, Miltonduff, Rothes, Craigellachie, and Glenlossie. There’s something here that’s unique, though. Yes, I’d prefer other single malts to this, but its unique enough to deserve some attention. This develops from tart and bitter citrus to roasted nuts, riding a light smoke all the way.

Rating: 6.3

10 | Insurpassable | Nothing Else Comes Close (Blanton’s Straight from the Barrel)

9 | Incredible | Extraordinary (GTS, Elijah Craig Barrel Proof B518 and B520)

8 | Excellent | Exceptional (12+YO MGP Bourbon, Highland Park Single Barrels)

7 | Great | Well above average (Blanton’s Original, Old Weller Antique, Booker’s)

6 | Very Good | Better than average (Four Roses Small Batch Select, Knob Creek 14+ YO Picks)

5 | Good | Good, solid, ordinary (Elijah Craig Small Batch, Buffalo Trace, Old Grand-Dad Bottled-in-Bond)

4 | Sub-par | Many things I’d rather have (A.D. Laws Four Grain, Compass Box “Oak Cross”)

3 | Bad | Flawed (Iron Smoke Bourbon, Balcones)

2 | Poor | Forced myself to drink it (Buckshee Bourbon and Rye)

1 | Disgusting | Drain pour (Virginia Distilling Co. Cider Cask)

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