Ballechin 2010 (Signatory)

A Ballechin of a 14 year old chosen by the Pitlochry bottler Signatory Vintage, distilled in 2010, from cask 710, bottled at 55.9%, one of 292 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.

Worked through worm tubs from heavily peated malt for a smoky, oily spirit, the worm tubs lending weight to the smoke. Finished in a Rum cask, the wood building over the oily, full bodied spirit. Integration folds eugenol (clove) and vanillin (vanilla) into the smoky malt, the body fuller and oilier. Refill oak lets the rich, oily Edradour character lead the way. For years its sign read Scotland's smallest distillery; it now calls itself Scotland's little gem. Active wood frames the rich fruit without overwhelming the oily Highland spirit.

Bottled at a cask strength 55.9%, it is rich. A rich smoke over dried fruit and chocolate, with a soft brown sugar and a tropical fruit from the cask. The mouthfeel is thick and oily, the smoke on a creamy body. The close is oily and smoky, fruit over a tarry oak. This is the smoky side of tiny Edradour.