Dino Mancarella has a new bottling: an undisclosed Highland 1983, which sounds like something similar to what Liquid Art / WhiskyNerds released some time ago. Now we’re excited.
Highland Single Malt 36 yo 1983 (47,3%, Mancarella 2019, refill sherry hogshead #50, 166 btl.)
Highland Single Malt 36 yo 1983 (47,3%, Mancarella 2019, refill sherry hogshead #50, 166 btl.)Nose: bingo. Orange peel, crushed mint leaves and plenty of beeswax, pollen and other beehive notes. Light earthy notes, subtle camphor and pine needles. Dried herbs. Hints of allspice.
Mouth: unexpectedly sweet at first, although quickly joined by the spice and pine-y old oak again. Hints of mango, apricot, orange, more tropical than the Liquid Art bottling. Goes on with tobacco and leather, a little eucalyptus, paraffin and a touch of floral honey. Mint liqueur.
Finish: long, still rather creamy with some sweet fruitiness alongside the oak, and always mint.
Really great. Old-school fruits, beehive notes and balanced minty oak. Quite similar to these 1970s undisclosed Speysiders. Around € 300 from Mancarella direct.
Score: 91/100