Ballechin 2013 (Signatory)

From the Pitlochry bottler Signatory Vintage, a 12 year old Ballechin, distilled in 2013, from cask 201, bottled at 58.8%, one of 354 bottles. Ballechin is the smoky side of Edradour, a heavily peated malt from Pitlochry. Its water comes from the Ben Vrackie springs in the hills above the distillery.

It was drawn off the tiny stills and cooled in worm tubs, smoke over an oily spirit, for the smoky, oily Ballechin make. First fill bourbon gave a fuller vanilla and a touch of coconut from the lactones. Integration folds eugenol (clove) and vanillin (vanilla) into the smoky malt, the body fuller and oilier. Long ageing turns the rich make towards dried fruit, fig and a soft spice. 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. Refill oak lets the rich, oily Edradour character lead the way.

At 58.8%, undiluted, it is deep and concentrated. 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 Ballechin's heavily peated, oily style.