Ballechin 2011 vW (van Wees) (46%)

This Ballechin was bottled by the Dutch bottler van Wees, a 10 year old, distilled in 2011, from cask 272, bottled at 46%, one of 833 bottles. Ballechin is a peated Highland single malt from Edradour, owned by Signatory Vintage. Ballechin was first distilled in 2003, the malt peated to around fifty parts per million.

Distilled from heavily peated malt in tiny copper stills and worm tubs, building the rich, peated Ballechin style. An Oloroso cask held it, shaping the oily spirit over the years. In integration lactones (coconut) and vanillin (vanilla) join the smoke, the dried fruit deepening beneath. The cool Highland air of the glen gives a slow, even maturation in the small Edradour warehouses. Active wood frames the rich fruit without overwhelming the oily Highland spirit. Signatory's wide cask range gives the small distillery an unusual variety of finishes.

At an approachable 46% it is soft and oily. A rich smoke over dried fruit and chocolate, with dried fruit, fig and walnut from the cask. A dried fruit and a tarry oak give it depth. Peat smoke, dried fruit and a soft oak see out a long finish. This is the smoky side of tiny Edradour.