Ballechin 2013 (LMDW)

A 12 year old Ballechin from the Paris house La Maison du Whisky, distilled in 2013, from cask 802, bottled at 48.2%, one of 355 bottles. Ballechin is a rich, smoky Highland single malt from the tiny Edradour distillery. It once supplied blends such as House of Lords and King's Ransom.

Made from malt peated to around fifty parts per million in the tiny stills, for a heavy, smoky spirit with an oily depth. First fill bourbon gave a fuller vanilla and a touch of coconut from the lactones. In integration lactones (coconut) and vanillin (vanilla) join the smoke, the dried fruit deepening beneath. Refill oak lets the rich, oily Edradour character lead the way. Ballechin was first distilled in 2003, the malt peated to around fifty parts per million. Ben Vrackie water and a long ferment give the rich Edradour make. Under Signatory the range has grown to a wide run of sherry and wine cask bottlings.

At its natural 48.2% it is rich and full bodied. Woodsmoke, oily malt and a dried fruit, with a soft vanilla from the oak. It is rich and smoky, the oily spirit shining through. A rich finish ends on soft ash and dried fruit. This is a peated Highland single malt of real weight.