Pintail Mannochmore 2008 - 55.1%
Pintail - the home of the ‘funky wine cask finish’ and another ‘heritage’ brand. Pintail was a Matthew Gloag & Son stablemate of Brig o’ Perth, launched some 35 years later (1931) initially as a dry sherry. Advertised in high society publications such as Tatler through the 1940s and 50s, the brand won international awards for its superior quality as the perfect “11 o’clock to serve to guests before lunch and during meals”.
We acquired the brand last year (retaining the original black bottle - white label look with the Pintail duck in flight refreshed on every label) for a variety of Scotch whiskies finished in interesting ex-wine casks (mainly sweet wines) and also any non-Scotch wines and spirits we select to bottle.
Tokaji Aszú, the famous, highly prized Hungarian sweet wine, is one of the oldest known European wines, going back to the Roman times of 300AD. These wines are deliciously floral and fruity-sweet in style, typically with apricots, nectarines, ripe peaches and a touch of honey, taking the fruity-floral Mannochmore character to new heights after a 6-month long ‘finishing’ period. Notes of ripe yellow stone fruit, sun-dried grapes, yellow sultanas and a kick of ginger spice.
Tokaji Aszú Finish #3075, a limited release of 289 bottles.
Tasting Notes:
Appearance: Burnished gold, forms a thin line which beads before falling as thick, oily legs.
Nose: Candied pineapple and mango bring lively tropical notes, soft nectarines, honey and a touch of lemon citrus.
Palate: Creamy vanilla and caramel sauce, together with ripe stone fruit. Seville orange marmalade and raisins follow, together with peppery spice. Addition of a few drops of water opens the whisky up, bringing pineapple coulis and chocolate coated caramel together with juicy citrus and more tropical fruitiness.
Finish: Sun-dried raisins, milk chocolate and nutty, astringent oak underpinned by peppery warmth. With water, a little more drying oak accompanied by stewed apples, poached apricots and chocolate covered raisins.
Summary: Mannochmore is one of those whiskies which often leaves me feeling a little underwhelmed, however this bottling is anything but mediocre. Drink it neat and it’s a nice enough dram, but with a little water the burst of fruitiness that develops takes it up several notches.
Priced at £80 it’s not a cheap whisky, but at 55.1% abv you get quite a bit for your money. That said, given a straight choice from the bottles on the tasting, I would have to opt for the outrageously good Brig o’ Perth Blair Athol which comes in a little easier on the wallet.
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Transparency: this sample pack was received free of charge for independent review. The author has no affiliation with the bottler, all opinions are my own and remain completely impartial.
