Mannochmore 12yo, Fable Whiskies "Ghost of Clanyard Bay", The Hound

Fable whiskies' "Ghost of Clanyard Bay" collection caught my eye as a new independent bottler. I was keen to try samples before committing to full bottles. I'm genuinely impressed by the two expressions I've sampled so far, and this Mannochmore "The Hound" is the latest. For context, this is my inaugural Mannochmore tasting, a notable point given it's my 898th whisky review. Mannochmore is a Speyside distillery owned by Diageo, contributing to Johnnie Walker blends. Bottled at 55.4% ABV with a pale straw hue. The nose begins subtly, then becomes remarkable. Yellow apples are prominent initially. Despite its 55.4% ABV, the nose is remarkably soft, akin to light apple juice from a gas station. It's highly perfumed and floral, with notes of pear. The aroma is gentle, not intense. Swirling the glass awakens a potent, raw acetone scent. It's essentially apple juice, a pleasant one. However, after the first taste, a creamy blend of hazelnut and chocolate emerges, quite enticing, reminiscent of the filling in a Ferrero Rocher. Where was this amazing chocolate, cocoa, and hazelnut profile in the initial aroma? It's fantastic, exactly like a "Kinder Bueno" aroma. Allowing it to breathe longer releases green gooseberry notes. The palate offers caramel and chocolate briefly, followed by hay and green grass. There's also tobacco and a very herbal character. Ginger spice attempts to dominate, with saltiness pervasive. It's fruity. The second taste is dominated by a creamy chocolate and hazelnut mixture, very enjoyable and easy to savor. The ginger persists, alongside noticeable acidity from apples. It's an interesting and pleasant dram. The finish was the weakest aspect, scoring the lowest. Ginger is prominent, along with significant new wood. It's very bitter and oaky, qualities I generally try to avoid. It also has a wall paint quality. The finish feels underdeveloped, truly tasting like wall paint, with sawdust and cream notes. Overall, this Mannochmore greatly impressed me, particularly its chocolate and hazelnut characteristics, which were exceptionally good. The disappointing finish significantly lowered its score. Nevertheless, I've developed an interest in this distillery, which somehow escaped my usual whisky focus. My rating for this very good single malt, marred by a disappointing finish, is a fair 85 out of 100.