Edradour Ballechin Batch 6

A Ballechin, a distillery bottling, at 46%, 5100 bottles in all. Ballechin is a heavily peated Highland single malt made at Edradour near Pitlochry. It is one of the smallest traditional distilleries in Scotland, long run by just two or three hands.

It was drawn off the tiny stills and cooled in worm tubs, smoke over an oily spirit, for a smoky, oily make of peat and dried fruit. First fill bourbon gave a fuller vanilla and a touch of coconut from the lactones. With no age statement, vanillin (vanilla) and oak lactones (coconut) sit under a heavy peat smoke over the oily spirit. The cool Highland air of the glen gives a slow, even maturation in the small Edradour warehouses. For years its sign read Scotland's smallest distillery; it now calls itself Scotland's little gem. It was founded in 1825, growing out of an old farmers' cooperative in the glen above Pitlochry. The peated Ballechin lays heavy smoke over the rich, oily Edradour spirit.

Bottled at 46%, it is rounded. Peat, chocolate and a waxy oil, with a soft vanilla from the oak. Peat, fig and a creamy malt fill the middle. The finish is long, smoky and gently spiced. This is a rich, smoky Highland single malt.