Ballechin 2003 (LMDW)

This Ballechin was bottled by the Paris house La Maison du Whisky, a 12 year old, distilled in 2003, from cask 173, bottled at 52.5%, one of 290 bottles. Ballechin is a peated Highland single malt from Edradour, owned by Signatory Vintage. Its peated make, Ballechin, is named after a long extinct peated farm distillery a few miles away.

Distilled slowly from peated malt in the old farm stillhouse, for a heavy, smoky spirit with an oily depth. It rested in ex-Bourbon oak, oak lactones lending vanilla and a little coconut. Through integration spirit and wood marry, vanillin settling into vanilla as the peat smoke softens to a mellow, oily reek. The full bodied spirit shows the cask clearly, the sherry and oak to the fore. It is one of the smallest traditional distilleries in Scotland, long run by just two or three hands. Refill oak lets the rich, oily Edradour character lead the way.

At a natural 52.5% it is full and oily. Woodsmoke, oily malt and a dried fruit, with a soft vanilla from the oak. Beneath the smoke run dried fruit, chocolate and a soft oil. The finish is long, smoky and gently spiced. This is Ballechin, Edradour's peated single malt.