Ballechin 2010 (Signatory) (58.9%)

The Pitlochry bottler Signatory Vintage bottled this Ballechin, a 10 year old, distilled in 2010, from cask 195 (part), bottled at 58.9%, one of 339 bottles. Ballechin is Edradour's heavily peated malt, smoke laid over a rich, oily Highland spirit. It is one of the smallest traditional distilleries in Scotland, long run by just two or three hands.

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. Finished in an Oloroso cask, the wood building over the oily, full bodied spirit. Through integration spirit and wood marry, vanillin settling into vanilla as the peat smoke softens to a mellow, oily reek. Ben Vrackie water and a long ferment give the rich Edradour make. Signatory's wide cask range gives the small distillery an unusual variety of finishes.

At its natural 58.9% it is rich and full bodied. Peat, chocolate and a waxy oil, with dried fruit, fig and walnut from the cask. Soft ash and a nutty oil sit behind the cask. It finishes long, rich and smoky. This is a rich, smoky malt from one of Scotland's smallest distilleries.