Edradour Ballechin 2008 Cask #278

This official Ballechin, a 10 year old, from 2008, cask 278, at 60.1%, 300 bottles in all. Ballechin is a rich, smoky Highland single malt from the tiny Edradour distillery. A rare Morton refrigerator still cools the wort, one of the last in use in Scotland.

The spirit was run through the small stills, the peat smoke carried into a rich, oily make, giving a rich, peated Highland spirit. Ex-Bourbon casks held it, the gentle American oak letting the oily make lead. In integration lactones (coconut) and vanillin (vanilla) join the smoke, the dried fruit deepening beneath. Active wood frames the rich fruit without overwhelming the oily Highland spirit. Its water comes from the Ben Vrackie springs in the hills above the distillery. Ben Vrackie water and a long ferment give the rich Edradour make. Vanillin and oak lactones from the wood lend vanilla and coconut over the fruit.

At 60.1%, undiluted, it is deep and concentrated. Soft ash, dried fruit and a creamy malt, with a soft vanilla from the oak. Beneath the smoke run dried fruit, chocolate and a soft oil. The finish runs long, smoky and warming. This is the smoky side of tiny Edradour.