Ballechin 2003 (Signatory)

A 16 year old Ballechin from the Pitlochry bottler Signatory Vintage, distilled in 2003, from cask 186, bottled at 58.9%, one of 620 bottles. Ballechin is the peated expression of Edradour, named after a long lost peated farm distillery nearby. A rare Morton refrigerator still cools the wort, one of the last in use in Scotland.

Worked through worm tubs from heavily peated malt for a smoky, oily spirit, giving a rich, peated Highland spirit. Finished in an Oloroso cask, the wood building over the oily, full bodied spirit. At oxidative maturity vanillin and lactones are expressed, the smoke folding into the nutty, oily malt. Signatory's wide cask range gives the small distillery an unusual variety of finishes. Under Signatory the range has grown to a wide run of sherry and wine cask bottlings. Ben Vrackie water and a long ferment give the rich Edradour make.

At a hearty 58.9% it carries real weight. Peat smoke, dried fruit and a nutty oil, with dried fruit, fig and walnut from the cask. A baked apple and a peppery smoke lift it. The finish is rounded, smoky and gently spiced. This is a rich, smoky malt from one of Scotland's smallest distilleries.