Mannochmore
In 1996, a small Speyside distillery that almost nobody knew caused a stir: Mannochmore released Loch Dhu ("black lake"), a whisky that poured from the bottle almost pitch black - with no added colouring whatsoever, as the distillery always insisted. Whether the unusual colour really came solely from a special charring of the casks remains a hotly debated topic among collectors to this day. Yet the actual Mannochmore malt has remarkably little in common with its dark sibling: delicate, fruity and pleasantly unassuming. The distillery was founded in 1971 by John Haig & Co right next to the older Glenlossie distillery. For decades both operations shared the same workforce, taking turns producing for six months each year - a workaround born of economically difficult times that ended only in 2007, when each distillery got its own staff and both have run in parallel year-round ever since.
Content: 0.7 Liter (€65.70 / 1 Liter)
Available, delivery time: 1-3 business days
Content: 0.7 Liter (€68.43 / 1 Liter)
Available, delivery time: 1-3 business days
Code: Halloween26
Content: 0.7 Liter (€112.84 / 1 Liter)
Available, delivery time: 1-3 business days
Content: 0.7 Liter (€48.56 / 1 Liter)
Available, delivery time: 3-6 business business days
Content: 0.7 Liter (€122.84 / 1 Liter)
Available, delivery time: 3-6 business business days
Content: 0.7 Liter (€95.70 / 1 Liter)
Available, delivery time: 3-6 business business days
Content: 0.7 Liter (€88.56 / 1 Liter)
Available, delivery time: 3-6 business business days
Content: 0.7 Liter (€108.56 / 1 Liter)
Available, delivery time: 3-6 business business days
Content: 0.7 Liter (€108.56 / 1 Liter)
Available, delivery time: 3-6 business business days
Content: 0.7 Liter (€391.41 / 1 Liter)
Available, delivery time: 3-6 business business days
Content: 0.7 Liter (€157.13 / 1 Liter)
Available, delivery time: 3-6 business business days
Content: 0.7 Liter (€81.41 / 1 Liter)
Available, delivery time: 3-6 business business days
What's the story behind the black Loch Dhu?
In 1996 Mannochmore released Loch Dhu, an almost black malt that still divides whisky enthusiasts today - its taste was often compared to liquorice cough syrup. Production has since been discontinued, but its striking rarity now makes it a sought-after collector's item.
Why did Mannochmore long share its workforce with another distillery?
Mannochmore and the neighbouring Glenlossie distillery were run by the same crew for decades, working six months of the year at one site and then the other - a rare example of distilleries sharing staff in Scotland during economically difficult years. Since 2007 each distillery has had its own staff again, and both now run in parallel at full capacity year-round.
Flavour profile
Taste: Floral and fresh with ripe fruit, a slightly dry finish and a very gentle smoky note - considerably more approachable than its dark alter ego.
Recommended enjoyment: Neat as an aperitif, ideal for newcomers seeking a light, uncomplicated Speyside malt.
The official Diageo bottling shows the character best: Mannochmore 12 Year Old Flora & Fauna.
Facts and figures
Founded 1971 by John Haig & Co in Thornshill near Elgin. Closed 1985-1989 and again 1995-1997. Official Flora & Fauna bottling since 1992. Shared workforce with Glenlossie until 2007. Part of Diageo since 2004. Capacity approx. 3,400,000 litres.