Mannochmore – 2007 18 Years Decadent Drinks Chapter 2 (70cl, 54.3%)

This Speyside single malt was distilled at Mannochmore in 2007 and is 18 years old. It is Chapter 2 from the independent bottler Decadent Drinks, bottled exclusively for Whisky Bibliothek at 54.3% in a 70cl bottle, with 275 bottles in all. The whisky spent 12 years in a refill hogshead, followed by a further 6 years in a first-fill ex-Oloroso sherry hogshead. That long second maturation brings a dark, spicy, old-school sherry character to the fore without hiding the malty side of Mannochmore. The nose offers raisins, dates, black cherries and plums, then dark chocolate, cocoa and coffee. The palate is full and viscous, with plum jam, espresso and dry Oloroso spice. The finish is long, warm and increasingly dry, with leather and sweet tobacco.