Single Malt Whisky, Scotland / Highlands

With a phenol count of 50 ppm, the Ballechin single malt accounts for 5% of Edradour’s production. This absolutely incredible bottling wonderfully embodies the powerful yet unctuous style of a now essential single malt for fans of peated whiskies. Aged in a first fill bourbon cask, it passionately and naturally writes a new chapter in a history that began just 15 years ago and which is now rich in iconic bottlings, including the magnificent manzanilla, sherry and Caroni cask Ballechins selected by La Maison du Whisky.

On the initial nose, cut hay and white mint appear alongside a mineral, saline, camphoric and dry peat. Next, coconut milk and vanilla accompany aromatic plants (sage, rosemary). Very unlike the nose, the attack is acidic (citrus fruit zest). On the mid-palate, the peat is omnipresent. Overflowing with mineral salts, it is also chocolatey. Staying close to the grain, the finish admires barley being dried in a kiln. The retro-nasal olfaction is earthy, herbal (black tea) and medicinal (ointment). The empty glass is heady (violet).

Single Cask no. 311  First Fill Bourbon.
An LMDW exclusive.

TASTING NOTE

Appearance :bright gold.

Nose :refined, balanced. Placed atop subtle notes of cut hay and white mint, a mineral (sleet), camphoric, saline and rather dry peat spreads across the surface of the aromatic palette. In the depths, coconut milk, vanilla and incense appear alongside sage and rosemary. Gradually, soot and smoke come to the front of the stage to play leading roles. Note that the nose has become increasingly gamy (bacon, smoked fish).

Palate :clear, lively. The attack is very unlike the nose and particularly dynamic (citrus fruit zest). Its acidic character is softened by bourbon vanilla and a fine layer of liquorice. On the mid-palate, peat knocks over everything in its path. Overflowing with mineral salts, it is also chocolatey. The consistency is also more oily than the nose might have implied. At the end of the palate, fresh fruits (pear, Mirabelle plum) refresh the palate at just the right moment.

Overall :long, generous. A perfect summary of the nose and palate, the start of the finish eloquently stages barley being dried in the kiln. Saturated by smoke, the very end of the palate strides towards an earthy, mineral (chalk), saline, herbal (black tea) and medicinal (ointment) retro-nasal olfaction. The empty glass is characterized by iodine tincture and heady florals (violet, lavender).