Whisky Review/Tasting: Mannochmore 25 years

Physical Whisky Characteristics

Origin: Mannochmore Distillery, Scotland.
Type: Single Malt Scotch Whisky.
Distillation and Maturation Process: Matured in a unique selection of ex-bourbon, first-fill, and new first-fill American oak barrels, and new European oak butts.
Age Statement: 25 years, vintage 1990.
ABV: 53.4% (Cask Strength).
Color: Deep amber with copper lights.
Clarity: Not explicitly mentioned, but the detailed description of color suggests clarity.
Bottle Design: The bottle is presented in a beautifully painted card box featuring a woodpecker. It is wrapped in special paper, indicating a limited release. The packaging includes a booklet with tasting notes and distillery information.

Nose: Mellow, deep, and ethereal with notes of candied orange peel, waxy red apple peel, sweet muscat grapes, ripe red apple, tart green apple, and a dense sugary scorched fruit cake layer. Becomes faintly spicy and earthy with a late scent of gorse flowers.
Taste: Intense oak characters, burnt orange peel, and a balance of sweetness from toffee and sourness from apple aromas. The flavor profile is complex, full, and intense, with a mouth-coating texture.
Finish: A little dryer with the appearance of orange peel and the spiciness of the oak running over the tongue, leading to a light bitterness of the oak in the aftertaste.

Anecdote: The host shares a personal story about his aunt who accidentally caused a fire with an orange peel and a candle, linking it to the burnt orange peel note in the whisky.
Distillery Background: Mannochmore is part of an industrial complex that includes two distilleries, the other being Glenlossie. They are named differently due to their different shaped stills but share the same infrastructure.

Geographical Context: Mannochmore Distillery is situated among rolling hills criss-crossed by streams, with the Barden Burn running down Mannoch Hill to the distillery. The great spotted woodpecker, featured on the packaging, is found in nearby Millbury's Wood, adding a touch of local wildlife to the whisky's story.

"It's a wonderful full intense caramel toffee vanilla nose at first underlying a lot of fruitiness... quite complex, full and intense."
"A wonderful piece of work. Well, if you have the right casks, have enough time and the patience and the money to let it rest, then you get a wonderful piece of work out of it."

Mannochmore 25 years is a single malt Scotch whisky with a complex flavor profile, matured in a unique selection of barrels.
The whisky presents a deep amber color and is packaged in a beautifully designed box featuring a woodpecker.
The flavor profile includes notes of caramel, toffee, vanilla, and a variety of fruits, with a spicy and slightly bitter finish.
The distillery's geographical context and an anecdote about a fire caused by an orange peel add depth to the storytelling aspect.
The whisky is described as a "wonderful piece of work," highlighting the importance of the right casks, time, patience, and investment in creating a quality whisky.

Whisky Collectors: Due to its limited release and unique packaging, collectors would find this bottle a valuable addition to their collection.
Experienced Whisky Enthusiasts: Those with a palate for complex, aged single malts would appreciate the depth and intensity of flavors.
Fans of Cask Strength Whisky: Individuals who enjoy exploring the robust and unadulterated flavors found in cask strength whiskies would find this Mannochmore 25 years appealing.