Edradour Ballechin 2005 Cask #316

This official Ballechin, a 12 year old, from 2005, cask 316, at 57.5%, 262 bottles in all. Ballechin is the heavily peated single malt from Edradour, the tiny farm distillery at Pitlochry. The distillery sits in a pocket glen at Balnauld, in the hills above Pitlochry in Perthshire.

It 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. Maturation came in a Burgundy cask, layered over the rich Edradour make. By the integrating teens congeners fade and esters build, the smoke knitting with the rich, oily spirit. The worm tubs leave an oily weight that carries through the years in cask. Under Signatory the range has grown to a wide run of sherry and wine cask bottlings. It was founded in 1825, growing out of an old farmers' cooperative in the glen above Pitlochry. A small distillery and a hands on approach shape every cask by hand.

At 57.5%, undiluted, it is deep and concentrated. A smoky, fruity richness, with a soft red berry and an earthy edge from the cask. Peat, fig and a creamy malt fill the middle. The finish is rounded, smoky and gently spiced. This is a rich, smoky Highland single malt.