Edradour Ballechin 2004 Cask #14

A 13 year old Ballechin, a distillery bottling, from 2004, cask 14, at 52.9%, 399 bottles in all. Ballechin is the peated expression of Edradour, named after a long lost peated farm distillery nearby. It keeps the old ways, with an open cast iron mash tun, Oregon pine washbacks and worm tub condensers.

It was distilled from heavily peated malt in tiny copper stills and worm tubs, giving a rich, peated Highland spirit. A Burgundy cask held it, shaping the oily spirit over the years. By the integrating teens congeners fade and esters build, the smoke knitting with the rich, oily spirit. Long ageing turns the rich make towards dried fruit, fig and a soft spice. Vanillin and oak lactones from the wood lend vanilla and coconut over the fruit. Ben Vrackie water and a long ferment give the rich Edradour make. It once supplied blends such as House of Lords and King's Ransom.

At a hearty 52.9% it carries real weight. A smoky, fruity richness, with a soft red berry and an earthy edge from the cask. It is rich and smoky, the oily spirit shining through. The finish is rounded, smoky and gently spiced. This is a peated Highland single malt of real weight.