Ballechin 2004 (TWE)

A Ballechin of a 12 year old chosen by The Whisky Exchange, distilled in 2004, from cask 330, bottled at 54.5%, one of 251 bottles. Ballechin is the heavily peated single malt from Edradour, the tiny farm distillery at Pitlochry. It was bought in 2002 by Andrew Symington of the independent bottler Signatory Vintage.

Run through the small stills, the peat smoke carried into a rich, oily make, for a smoky, oily make of peat and dried fruit. First fill bourbon gave a fuller vanilla and a touch of coconut from the lactones. By the integrating teens congeners fade and esters build, the smoke knitting with the rich, oily spirit. The cool Highland air of the glen gives a slow, even maturation in the small Edradour warehouses. Its water comes from the Ben Vrackie springs in the hills above the distillery. For years its sign read Scotland's smallest distillery; it now calls itself Scotland's little gem.

At a hearty 54.5% it carries real weight. A rich smoke over dried fruit and chocolate, 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 the oily, smoky malt of Ballechin.