Straight forward and simple – Mannochmore from a refill ex-bourbon hogshead. Spicy & Dry profile.
Nose: Rather shy. Baked buns, toasted bread, chopped macadamia nuts and coconut macaroons. Resting adds additional expressiveness, but this is still softly spoken – coconut biscuits, peanut brittle and holly leaves. Water doesn’t massively alter the aromas profiles here –a touch more peanut and hints of rolled pastry.
Taste: A radical improvement - tropical fruits (pineapple and mango) sit with gingerbread, chocolate sponge, vanilla and popcorn. The mid to back palates offer more overt oakiness – slightly astringent with building pepperiness. Dilution adds a pleasant syrupy texture to the fruit elements and heightens the cask spice – both pepper and ginger and loud and upfront.
Finish: Medium with macadamia and walnut biscuits and some rather drying wood.
Tough to find the right balance with this Mannochmore. Straight-up the nose is extremely discreet, whereas the palate is packed full of flavour. Water improves the overall expressiveness, but then things start to feel a little too oaky and drying. Nuts certainly, but rather the mixed bag.