Edradour Ballechin 2004 Cask #338

This official Ballechin, a 10 year old, from 2004, cask 338, at 46%, 728 bottles in all. Ballechin is a peated Highland single malt from Edradour, owned by Signatory Vintage. Ballechin was first distilled in 2003, the malt peated to around fifty parts per million.

The spirit was drawn off the tiny stills and cooled in worm tubs, smoke over an oily spirit, for a heavy, smoky spirit with an oily depth. It was matured in an Oloroso cask, the wood working slowly into the rich malt. In integration lactones (coconut) and vanillin (vanilla) join the smoke, the dried fruit deepening beneath. Ben Vrackie water and a long ferment give the rich Edradour make. A small distillery and a hands on approach shape every cask by hand. The distillery sits in a pocket glen at Balnauld, in the hills above Pitlochry in Perthshire. It was bought in 2002 by Andrew Symington of the independent bottler Signatory Vintage.

At 46% it is rich, nutty and full. A rich smoke over dried fruit and chocolate, with dried fruit, fig and walnut from the cask. Soft ash and a nutty oil sit behind the cask. The finish runs long, smoky and warming. This is the oily, smoky malt of Ballechin.