Now we move from the islands of Scotland to the mainland and take a set of Manager's choice releases.
Clynelish 20 yo 1995/2015 LMDW Artist #5 54.2% - matured for 20 years in a refill sherry butt.
Nose: powerful and convincing, lots of fruits and spices.
Taste: salt, spices, pepper, oranges, hints of wax.
Finish: long, spicy and fruity.
Overall: I like bourbon cask maturation a bit more, though this one is very good: fruity, spicy and salty Clynelish.
Score: 22 23 22 22, 89/100!
As you might know Manager's choice series is a set of 27 single casks releases from 27 Diageo distilleries. They were selected by a special meeting of the distillery managers who met on the 17th of February 2009 at Blair Athol. They assessed multiple examples from each distillery to find an exemplary cask from each to bottle for the range. The whiskies finally selected range in age from 9 to 17 years old and come from a variety of first fill, refill, bourbon and sherry casks.
Mannochmore 10 yo 1998/2009 Manager's choice 59.1% - matured in Bodega Sherry European Oak for ten years, at this strength should be a beast.
Nose: dense and sweet, tons of sherry influence indeed from apple and strawberries to coffee and chocolate.
Taste: bursting, creamy, sugar, orange marmalade and chocolate.
Finish: long and powerful on oranges and strawberry.
Overall: I'm not sure I've ever tasted Mannochmores before (only 7 official releases present on WB!), though this one is very good. Single casks rule.
Score: 21.5 22.5 22 22, 88/100!
Taste: bursting, creamy, sugar, orange marmalade and chocolate.
Finish: long and powerful on oranges and strawberry.
Overall: I'm not sure I've ever tasted Mannochmores before (only 7 official releases present on WB!), though this one is very good. Single casks rule.
Score: 21.5 22.5 22 22, 88/100!
Auchroisk 9 yo 1999/2009 Manager's choice 60.6% - bodega sherry European oak again.
Nose: vanilla, anise, mint and grass.
Taste: nervous and playful, lemon pie.
Finish: minty and slightly woody.
Overall: mint and anise generally are marks of top-class caks, this one is no exception.
Score: 22.5 22.5 22 22, 89/100!
Nose: vanilla, anise, mint and grass.
Taste: nervous and playful, lemon pie.
Finish: minty and slightly woody.
Overall: mint and anise generally are marks of top-class caks, this one is no exception.
Score: 22.5 22.5 22 22, 89/100!
Glendullan 13 yo 1995/2009 Manager's choice 58.7% - tasted this one a few years ago and really liked it. Time for recheck.
Nose: vanilla and apple pie. Some liquorice after a while. And finally whiffs of moss which someone can consider as a fault, but I just adored such aroma development.
Taste: creamy and sweet, astringent, hints of vanilla, cloves and anis.
Finish: long on mint, grass and anis.
Overall: quite unique style, I don't know if it's typical for Glendullan (haven't tasted lots of them), but maybe you shouldn't waste time for 12 yo and Flora & Fauna bottlings and pass directly to Manager's choice, Manager's Dram and Rare Malts Glendullans.
Score: 23 22 22 22, 89/100!
Nose: vanilla and apple pie. Some liquorice after a while. And finally whiffs of moss which someone can consider as a fault, but I just adored such aroma development.
Taste: creamy and sweet, astringent, hints of vanilla, cloves and anis.
Finish: long on mint, grass and anis.
Overall: quite unique style, I don't know if it's typical for Glendullan (haven't tasted lots of them), but maybe you shouldn't waste time for 12 yo and Flora & Fauna bottlings and pass directly to Manager's choice, Manager's Dram and Rare Malts Glendullans.
Score: 23 22 22 22, 89/100!
Clynelish 20 yo 1995/2015 LMDW Artist #5 54.2% - matured for 20 years in a refill sherry butt.
Nose: powerful and convincing, lots of fruits and spices.
Taste: salt, spices, pepper, oranges, hints of wax.
Finish: long, spicy and fruity.
Overall: I like bourbon cask maturation a bit more, though this one is very good: fruity, spicy and salty Clynelish.
Score: 22 23 22 22, 89/100!
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