Ballechin 2008 (Signatory) (58.4%)

From the Pitlochry bottler Signatory Vintage, a 14 year old Ballechin, distilled in 2008, from cask 247, bottled at 58.4%, one of 232 bottles. Ballechin is the heavily peated single malt from Edradour, the tiny farm distillery at Pitlochry. The peated Ballechin lays heavy smoke over the rich, oily Edradour spirit.

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. A refill bourbon hogshead held it, keeping the rich, oily character to the fore. Through integration spirit and wood marry, vanillin settling into vanilla as the peat smoke softens to a mellow, oily reek. The worm tubs leave an oily weight that carries through the years in cask. Refill oak lets the rich, oily Edradour character lead the way. The full bodied spirit shows the cask clearly, the sherry and oak to the fore.

At 58.4%, undiluted, it is deep and concentrated. Soft ash, dried fruit and a creamy malt, with a soft vanilla from the oak. It is rich and smoky, the oily spirit shining through. The finish runs long, smoky and warming. This is a peated Highland single malt of real weight.