As a cask comes to maturity, Finn curates sampling sessions in interesting and relaxing environments, with friends, whisky experts and trusted partners to discover the personality of each cask and gauge the experience each dram evokes.
All the best distillers pride themselves on crafting whisky with a distinctive flavour, which is determined by the water source, grain and barley, the peat and malting, and their distilling processes. High quality original spirit is integral to every cask we bottle.
The cask itself interacts with the whisky over time. The type of wood plays a big role, as do treatments such as the whiskies are aged in a variety of types of casks. The whiskies are aged in former sherry or bourbon casks, augmenting the cask influence. External conditions such as air temperature, pressure and humidity also interact with the cask producing a knock-on effect that makes the spirit inside unique.
Finn uses these factors to balance each FT whisky experience. He may sample a cask and decide to leave it on the rack, allowing age to further develop its personality. He might decide to re-rack a whisky in a new cask to add a finishing touch. Or, he might simply deem it ready. When Finn decides the flavour is perfectly balanced, it’s time to bottle the whisky.
I first tried a sample of this cask back in September 2020 when we had just embarked on the journey of launching Finn Thomson Whisky. Like the company itself, this Mannochmore had its own exciting development ahead. Originally in a refill hogshead, the then 12-year-old sample had a very clean, green apple character that made it the ideal candidate for re-racking into a Pedro Jimenez sherry cask. This delightfully light spirit character is typical of Mannochmore — a distillery that can be overwhelmed by too much cask influence — and requires careful attention.
Over the last 18 months, it's been a thrill to witness this whisky fulfil its potential. The sherry has boosted its inherent sweetness but not completely taken over by any means. Now is the time to bottle. Despite being cask strength this is an amazingly smooth dram with toffee apple notes aplenty. A fitting release for the launch of our company, both now fully matured.
A relatively new distillery, built in 1971 on the same site as its 'big sister' distillery Glenlossie. In its sister's shadow, Mannochmore quietly produces a light, floral and fruity spirit. That makes it all the more surprising that it was the malt behind the notorious 'Loch Dhu' black whisky which was considered as one of the most unusual whiskies to hit the market due to its extreme use of caramel colouring (although it is now a collectors item). Thankfully the distillery has since gone under the radar and it is a well kept secret for those that understand and appreciate its true light, fruity character.
Cask management is key with Mannochmore. The light nature of the spirit means that bolshy casks can overwhelm it quite quickly. The original liquid spent 13 years in a refill hogshead allowing the sweet and floral new make spirit develop into bursts of ripe fruit. Apple coming through strongest. When re-racking this whisky into a PX Sherry cask there was an understanding from the beginning that this would need careful attention. 18 months in a new home has added a new sweetness to the whisky without overwhelming the original spirit.
At 14 years old and having lived in two very different casks this whisky is now ready. The original apple flavours that are so typical of the distillery style have now been given a boost of sweetness by the Pedro Jimenez sherry. This is now an incredibly smooth, easy drinking whisky. One to crack open with a few friends and throw the cork away!
I first tried a sample of this cask back in September 2020 when we had just embarked on the journey of launching Finn Thomson Whisky. Like the company itself, this Mannochmore had its own exciting development ahead. Originally in a refill hogshead, the then 12-year-old sample had a very clean, green apple character that made it the ideal candidate for re-racking into a Pedro Jimenez sherry cask. This delightfully light spirit character is typical of Mannochmore — a distillery that can be overwhelmed by too much cask influence — and requires careful attention.
Over the last 18 months, it's been a thrill to witness this whisky fulfil its potential. The sherry has boosted its inherent sweetness but not completely taken over by any means. Now is the time to bottle. Despite being cask strength this is an amazingly smooth dram with toffee apple notes aplenty. A fitting release for the launch of our company, both now fully matured.
A relatively new distillery, built in 1971 on the same site as its 'big sister' distillery Glenlossie. In its sister's shadow, Mannochmore quietly produces a light, floral and fruity spirit. That makes it all the more surprising that it was the malt behind the notorious 'Loch Dhu' black whisky which was considered as one of the most unusual whiskies to hit the market due to its extreme use of caramel colouring (although it is now a collectors item). Thankfully the distillery has since gone under the radar and it is a well kept secret for those that understand and appreciate its true light, fruity character.
Cask management is key with Mannochmore. The light nature of the spirit means that bolshy casks can overwhelm it quite quickly. The original liquid spent 13 years in a refill hogshead allowing the sweet and floral new make spirit develop into bursts of ripe fruit. Apple coming through strongest. When re-racking this whisky into a PX Sherry cask there was an understanding from the beginning that this would need careful attention. 18 months in a new home has added a new sweetness to the whisky without overwhelming the original spirit.
At 14 years old and having lived in two very different casks this whisky is now ready. The original apple flavours that are so typical of the distillery style have now been given a boost of sweetness by the Pedro Jimenez sherry. This is now an incredibly smooth, easy drinking whisky. One to crack open with a few friends and throw the cork away!