Edradour Ballechin 2004 Cask #349 (part)

This official Ballechin, a 12 year old, from 2004, cask 349 (part), at 53.7%, 360 bottles in all. Ballechin is the smoky side of Edradour, a heavily peated malt from Pitlochry. It was bought in 2002 by Andrew Symington of the independent bottler Signatory Vintage.

The spirit was drawn off the tiny stills and cooled in worm tubs, smoke over an oily spirit, for the smoky, oily Ballechin make. An Oloroso cask held it, shaping the oily spirit over the years. Through integration spirit and wood marry, vanillin settling into vanilla as the peat smoke softens to a mellow, oily reek. The worm tubs leave an oily weight that carries through the years in cask. Signatory's wide cask range gives the small distillery an unusual variety of finishes. For years its sign read Scotland's smallest distillery; it now calls itself Scotland's little gem. It is one of the smallest traditional distilleries in Scotland, long run by just two or three hands.

Bottled at a cask strength 53.7%, it is rich. A smoky, fruity richness, with dried fruit, fig and walnut from the cask. A dried fruit and a tarry oak give it depth. The close is oily and smoky, fruit over a tarry oak. This is the smoky side of tiny Edradour.