Mannochmore 11 Year Old 2009 Reserve Cask (SMOS) Single Malt Scotch Whisky 700ml (ABV 48%)

Elixir Distillers is an independent bottler that released The Single Malts of Scotland range in 2002. This range consists of vintage single malt Scotch whiskies selected for their individual quality and character. Along with the classic single cask collection, the range includes the Director's Special series personally selected by Sukhinder Singh, as well as two small-batch collections: the accessible Reserve Casks and the more mature Marriage of Casks.

A batch of seven hogsheads from Mannochmore distillery was used to create this single malt, distilled in 2009 and aged for more than 11 years.

Nose - An immediate hit of lime-and-dill pickle and the sweetly intense aroma of hay bales, stacked in a field on a summer’s day. Oodles of spiced apple sauce dolloped on pork rind. Bread-and-butter pudding mingles with sharp fruit jellies.

Palate - Damson-plum jam, heaped on hot toast, is followed up quickly by boiled pear drops, shaken in a paper bag with powdered-sugar bonbons. Toasted cardamom pods and calvados-laced custard add to the feast of flavours.

Finish - Deliciously refreshing – sparkling elderflower cider mingles with burnt brioche buns, sprinkled with chopped pistachios. A tiny prickle of white pepper rests on.