Today we sample five independent Mannochmore, as we sadly cannot rely on the distillery itself to demonstrate their true quality. A quick look at Whiskybase reveals that, aside from a 12-year-old release in Diageo’s Flora & Fauna range, and some rare Prima & Ultima or Single Cask editions released sporadically, Mannochmore rarely issues official single malts. This means we must again depend on independent bottlers to discover what the distillery can achieve. First, let’s briefly introduce Mannochmore distillery, then review five independent Mannochmores from The Single Cask, Signatory Vintage, James Eadie, and Chorlton Whisky.
Mannochmore Distillery
Mannochmore Distillery is a relatively young Speyside whisky producer, located just south of Elgin in Scotland. Founded in 1971 by John Haig & Co., a subsidiary of Distillers Company Limited, Mannochmore was established to boost malt whisky output during a period of heightened demand for blending stock. Its purpose was largely to support neighbouring Glenlossie distillery, with which it shares several resources, including staff and water from the Bardon Burn.
Mannochmore’s history is marked by intervals of silence and resurgence. It was mothballed between 1985 and 1989 due to shifting market demands but reopened to continue its role as a provider for blends under Diageo’s expansive portfolio. The distillery gained a degree of fame (and notoriety) in the 1990s for producing the infamous Loch Dhu, the so-called ‘Black Whisky’, which became a cult curiosity for its intensely dark character and heavy use of colouring.
Although the majority of Mannochmore’s output is destined for blended whiskies, particularly in the Haig series, the distillery began bottling single malts in the early 1990s, appearing first in Diageo’s Flora & Fauna range. Mannochmore single malts are mostly seen as single casks from independent bottlers.
Today, Mannochmore remains under the ownership of Diageo, with a production capacity of 6 million litres per year. To attain that capacity, they have a 12-ton Briggs full lauter mash tun, eight wooden washbacks and eight external stainless steel ones, each with a capacity of 52,000 litres, and four pairs of stills. The distillery currently runs on a seven-day basis, reaching 5.8 million litres of alcohol per year, close to their max capacity.
Mannochmore 2012 #12,487 The Single Cask Ltd. (2022) Review
We start with a Mannochmore from The Single Cask Ltd. This Mannochmore was distilled on 12 November 2012 and bottled on 14 November 2022, after 10 years of maturation, including a finish in a first fill Ruby Port barrel. The cask produced 66 bottles; The Single Cask Ltd either split the cask or drew from it multiple times for different customers or special editions, as at least two other releases share this cask number. This release, bottled at 53.2% ABV without chill filtration or added colour, has now sold out.
Colour:
Cider.
Nose:
Neat: The nose opens with raisins and warm spices – cinnamon, nutmeg, and a hint of pepper – alongside dates, a subtle winey aroma, cherries, and toasted oak.
With water: After adding water, brown sugar, lemon, tangerines, raspberries, and dusty malt emerge more clearly.
Palate:
—Neat: The arrival strikes with intensity: sweetness, spices, and noticeable alcohol heat combine on first contact. The Ruby Port influence becomes pronounced, bringing wine notes and red fruits – raspberries, cherries, and peppery strawberry jam – alongside cinnamon, sharp pepper, and turmeric. Forest honey, milk chocolate, leather, and slight wood bitterness.
With water: The palate shifts to lemon and sour cherries, faint ashy smoke, raspy wood, and increased woody bitterness.
Finish:
The finish lingers with a citrus note of lemon, accompanied by wood bitterness and pepper. Though somewhat straightforward, the finish maintains a respectable length.
Comments:
This Mannochmore 2012 from The Single Cask Ltd. is good, but feels somewhat unbalanced. The ruby port influence remains subtle on the nose but reveals more pronounced vinous notes on the palate. Neat, the alcohol comes through strongly with a notable heat. Adding a few drops of water softens the heat but brings out a raspier wood character. It might require a precise amount of water to find the right spot, and some time with a pipette.
Rating: 6/10
Mannochmore 2009 James Eadie (2021) Review
Next, we have a Mannochmore distilled on the 9th of June 209, and bottled by James Eadie in 2021, at 11 years of age. It underwent a 10 months first fill PX hogshead finish (cask #356,851), before being bottled for the Dutch online retailer whiskysite.nl. The cask yielded 318 bottles filled at cask strength (56.3% ABV), without chill filtration nor added colour. This release is sold out.
Colour:
Brown sherry.
Nose:
Neat: Coffee, classic sherry raisins, and dates form the aromatic foundation, complemented by hints of mulled wine, cinnamon, and baking spices. Cola cubes, a touch of lacquer, polished oak, leather, and milk chocolate follow.
With water: Diluting with water reveals dusty wood, incense paper, and figolu biscuits.
Palate:
Neat: The palate commands immediate attention with its intensity and warmth. Molasses and raisins establish a rich base, whilst spicy notes – pepper, cinnamon, cumin, and chilli – drive the experience forward. Orange-infused dark chocolate, wood bitterness, sour cherries, and instant coffee weave through the mid-palate, with a tart edge reminiscent of grapefruit and lemon providing balance.
With water: Water mellows the heat somewhat and introduces a creamy texture, though the overall character remains largely unchanged.
Finish:
The finish is medium in length, sweet with a slightly sugar-bitter aftertaste and a mild spice, ending with light oak and accents of coffee. Some floral and fruity undertones persist, making for a clean but simple finish.
Comments:
A vibrant Mannochmore that showcases considerable intensity, with the Pedro Ximénez finish leaving a pronounced mark on the spirit. The PX cask influence dominates throughout, so the underlying Speyside character struggles to stay compelling and well-defined, but this Mannochmore is still a quite good whisky.
Rating: 6/10
Mannochmore 2012 100 Proof Edition #13 Signatory Vintage (2024) Review
Signatory Vintage bottled this 2012 Mannochmore in their infamous 100 Proof range as Edition #13 in 2024. We call it ‘infamous’ because whilst customers embrace these affordable bottlings, Signatory’s practice of flooding the market with affordable independent releases undercuts competitors, much to the frustration of other small bottlers. Signatory bottled this expression on 12 March 2024 after 11 years in first fill Oloroso Sherry Butts, releasing it at the series’ standard 57.1% ABV without chill filtration or added colour. This bottling remains widely available, ranging from as low as €42 in Germany to approximately €50 in the Netherlands and £47 in the UK.
Colour:
Russet.
Nose:
Neat: The nose opens with some sherry influence – varnished oak, glue, nuts, tobacco, and light berry notes. There’s a fresh fruitiness (apple, citrus, and tropical fruit), a hint of orange marmalade, old wood, leather, wax, and subtle chocolate.
With water: The fruit character intensifies, cherry and floral accents emerge, and the nose becomes less bitter and more refined. Surprising hints of cola, as well as honey, vanilla, and muscat grapes, along with mild earthy and herbal notes.
Palate:
—Neat: Initial flavours are fruity, creamy, and lightly herbal. The sherry presence provides sweetness – marmalade, redcurrant, plum, pomegranate syrup, and praline – balanced by dark chocolate, dry oak and muted spices (nutmeg, cloves, pepper). Leather, walnut, espresso, lemon and molasses show up mid-palate. The mouthfeel is silky, with alcohol well integrated.
With water: Water further reveals vanilla biscuits, honey, peaches, and softened tannins, but also more spices.
Finish:
—The finish gives a medium to long fade – slightly spicy, herbal, and dry – with lingering oak, forest fruits, dark chocolate, coffee, candied orange, warm tobacco, and even hints of smoke.
Comments:
This Mannochmore 2012 from Signatory Vintage offers pronounced sherry and oak character with a classic modern style, emphasising dried fruit, chocolate, and polished wood over distinctive distillery complexity. Water unlocks more fruit and creaminess. Like the other 100 Proof expressions, this is a solid value bottling and a very good whisky.
Rating: 7/10
Mannochmore 2012 Single Cask #120 Signatory Vintage Review
We stay with Signatory Vintage and 2012 Mannochmore, but this time this is a single cask, distilled on the 3rd of December 2012, and bottled on the 24th of January 2024, after 11 years of maturation in a first-fill Oloroso sherry butt #120. This release was selected by and bottled for the Whisky Club Nantais. This single cask was bottled at cask strength (60.2% ABV), with 654 bottles filled without chill filtration nor added colour. I’m not sure if this is still available; you’d have to contact the Whisky Club Nantais. They don’t seem to have a website, but you can reach out to me to get their phone number. I paid €85 for my bottle.
Colour:
Tawny.
Nose:
Neat: We’re in darker and nuttier sherry territory than the 100 Proof here. After some aeration, it becomes sweeter, with shortbread millionaire (keep that out of my daughter’s sight or it’ll vanish instantly), Jaffa cakes and custard. But the sherry is still here, bringing lots of almonds, milk chocolate and herbal honey. Cigarette ashy smoke.
With water: The nose is a bit sharper at first, with Japanese curry paste, miso soup, raw oak, walnuts and cold BBQ coal.
Palate:
Neat: Huge arrival, thick, chewy, spicy and heavily sherried. Bitter oranges, pickled ginger, dark chocolate, and quite some wood as well. More tangy flavours of lemon and grapefruit, peppered orange marmalade. Some red berries as well (raspberries) and sour cherries.
With water: More citrus fruits; they really shine here. Some dark chocolate again, bringing some bitterness to balance out the fruitiness.
Finish:
Spicy and sour: pepper, buckwheat honey, a pinch of salt, sour cherries, all lingering in a long finish.
Comments:
A wild and exuberant Mannochmore that defies its Oloroso maturation – the sherry influence remains subtle and unexpected. I’m grateful that Signatory reached out to my whisky club and sent us a bottle to sample; the opportunity to purchase several bottles afterwards proved worthwhile. This is a worthwhile addition to the collection.
Rating: 7.5/10
Mannochmore 16-year-old Chorlton Whisky (2024) Review
Chorlton Whisky, based in Manchester, bottled this 16-year-old Mannochmore in 2024. The whisky matured in a first fill Oloroso Sherry Butt, yielding 424 bottles at cask strength, 54.7% ABV, without chill filtration or artificial colouring. This release remains available at just above £100 in the UK, €115 on the Whiskybase shop, and approximately €150 in Italy.
Colour:
Tawny.
Nose:
Neat: Ripe fruit – peach, apple, pear – woven with raw barley, butter, and tonka beans. Citrus and linseed introduce bright notes, while candle wax gives a subtle texture. Dark cherry chocolate, creamy vanilla, sultanas, and gentle sherried richness – all in balance. Leather and malt may appear, but never dominate. The nose is lively and clean.
With water: Reduction brings dusty shelves, old chocolate bars and caramelised beer.
Palate:
—Neat: The palate delivers milky and chalky textures, with apples and vanilla shining through. Creamy custard, soft malt, and dried fruit surface, supported by a measured dose of spice – think cinnamon, nutmeg and pepper – and overripe orange. The mouthfeel is pleasantly soft. Herbal touches such as lemon verbena or dried herbs add some depth. The sherry remains dry rather than sweet.
With water: Ginger, milk chocolate, peach flavoured yogurt and more spices.
Finish:
Finish is medium, sweet, and creamy. Custard, vanilla fudge, and lingering fruit persist, with herbal notes and gentle alcohol warmth. A subtle sherried complexity and soft spice extend the aftertaste.
Comments:
This Mannochmore 16 from Chorlton Whisky distinguishes itself through its fruit-forward, harmonious profile. The nose commands attention with its engaging character, whilst the palate impresses with its restrained elegance. The Oloroso sherry influence provides nuance throughout without dominating the spirit’s natural character, resulting in a charming and highly approachable whisky.