Mannochmore, a distillery established by DCL in 1971, produces a lighter style of whisky compared to its sister plant, Glenlossie. While Glenlossie is known for its oilier character, Mannochmore leans towards more floral and delicate fruit flavors. These flavors develop more weight with age, and the distillery’s whiskies are most commonly found as 12-year-olds in the Flora & Fauna range.
The distillery was built during the 1960s boom in whisky production to meet the rising global demand for blended whiskies. It became closely associated with the Haig and Dimple brands, both popular names in the blending world. Despite being a quiet workhorse in the whisky industry for many years, Mannochmore gained significant attention in 1996 with the controversial release of Loch Dhu, a single malt that became infamous for its pitch-black color, likely due to the extensive use of spirit caramel. The whisky, despite its initial backlash, has since become a collector’s item.
In 2013, Mannochmore increased its production capacity to 4.5 million liters per annum with an upgraded mash tun, additional washbacks, and two more stills, bringing the total number of stills to eight. This expansion reflects the growing confidence in the distillery’s output, mirroring the larger trends in the industry.
