Manochmore 18 Year Old Official 'The Manager's Dram' 66.0%

This is the best Manochmore I've ever had. Manochmore 18 Year Old Official Bottling 'The Manager's Dram' 66.0% One of 1800 bottles The aroma is refined yet powerful, with a strong and delicious barley note, apricot jam, rock candy, tea, nuts, and a faint smokiness in the background. Upon drinking, it starts smooth but gradually expands powerfully and spicily. A very delicious malt with a strong bite, sweet richness, powerful and long-lasting finish. This is a non-selling 'Manager's Dram' bottling, also known as 'Manedra,' produced by the distillery for insiders. The bottling date is 1997, implying a distillation year around 1979. Although it's from a minor distillery, it is well-known among enthusiasts. Despite the 1800 bottles released, opportunities to drink it were rare until now. As expected from a Diageo special release, it has a high proof of 66%, but with post-bottling aging, there's a subtle oakiness reminiscent of refill sherry casks. Alongside the powerful and delicious barley notes, there's a concentrated fruity and tea-like character. The mouthfeel is smooth, with a strong malty sweetness and deep, complex flavor without being overly peculiar. It has a drinking readiness that makes it an excellent malt. Manochmore is not commonly released, and it's not a distillery that produces many bottles. However, at this moment, it is my favorite Manochmore. It has depth and richness without being too strong, and I could easily drink it endlessly at home.