Rites of Passage by Epicurean Selection has fired the opening salvo in the war for the future of independent bottling. Delivering casks of the utmost quality with respectable age stagements and carefully managed wood selection at prices that are fair is no easy task and many new bottles don’t even seem to be trying on the last part. This 13 year from Mannochmore shows, more than the Blue Chip distilleries of ROP’s other releass, what exactly we can look forward to in the long run. A (surpsingly active) refill hogshead from a workhorse Diageo distillery that was surely destined to be blended away has been revitalized into one of the most exciting casks we’ve seen in the 12-15 year old space in quite some time. Reracked in 2019 into a 1st fill Bourbon hoggie this cask really highlights the best of Mannochmore. Malt and fruit forward it is pretty and creamy and everything you want out of a Speysider. Bottled at cask strength (54% ABV) and without color or chill filtration.