The humble bourbon cask whisky is often overlooked these days by whisky drinkers in pursuit of heavily sherried or peated malts.
Yet it is still estimated that almost 90% of Scotch whisky goes into wood that was once used for maturing bourbon. It has therefore become more and more fashionable for drinkers and producers alike to go in search of alternative casks types to stand out from the crowd.
Yet when done well the classic bourbon cask whisky is a joy to behold. This Mannochmore is exactly that. Mannochmore is a distillery that produces an incredibly light style of whisky and the spirit can be easily overwhelmed by overly active casks. This light style is a match made in heaven for a well chosen bourbon cask though.
The trademark vanilla influences of the bourbon are front and centre here and with every sip I've been brought back to childhood days eating vanilla ice cream from the Allan Water Café in Bridge of Allan where I grew up. This is a whisky that showcases the best of a style of whisky that is often overlooked but deserves so much more credit when it is done well.
Story
Finn Thomson is a Scotch whisky independent bottler that is 300 years in the making. Since James Thomsons illicit potstill in the 1700s, the Thomson family has pursued a different element of whisky through the ages – distilling, blending, trading, selling – helping to shape the very story of Scotch itself.
With three centuries of family whisky history and personal tutelage from some of the most respected names in the Scottish whisky industry, Finn may stand on the shoulders of giants. But the weight of decision rests on his own.
Finn is responsible for calling the moment when a whisky’s flavours are at their finest; quirks and eccentricities at their most beguiling. Whether it’s a decades-old cask from the family collection or an entirely new creation, this is art as much as science. Wood, water and weather have had their say. The only guides that count now are taste, scent and intuition.