Edradour Ballechin 2004 Cask #184, 189

This official Ballechin, a 19 year old, from 2004, cask 184, 189, at 53.5%, 1323 bottles in all. Ballechin is the heavily peated single malt from Edradour, the tiny farm distillery at Pitlochry. It was founded in 1825, growing out of an old farmers' cooperative in the glen above Pitlochry.

Run through the small stills, the peat smoke carried into a rich, oily make, giving a rich, peated Highland spirit. Finished in a Madeira cask, the wood building over the oily, full bodied spirit. At oxidative maturity vanillin and lactones are expressed, the smoke folding into the nutty, oily malt. Signatory's wide cask range gives the small distillery an unusual variety of finishes. A rare Morton refrigerator still cools the wort, one of the last in use in Scotland. Vanillin and oak lactones from the wood lend vanilla and coconut over the fruit. Refill oak lets the rich, oily Edradour character lead the way.

At a natural 53.5% it is full and oily. Woodsmoke, oily malt and a dried fruit, with a nutty, raisined sweetness from the cask. The mouthfeel is thick and oily, the smoke on a creamy body. The finish is rounded, smoky and gently spiced. This is the smoky side of tiny Edradour.