Before the 200+ single cask Ballechins swarmed the market, Edradour had released eight small batches of their young peated single malt (Ballechin), each with its own maturation scheme. Batch 3, aged in port-seasoned hogsheads, was pretty great per my palate. I also had a chance to try today's batch (number 6) at the distillery and was again impressed, especially with its unique coffee note. So far I like these baby Ballechins more than their current, older sibs.
This past weekend I enjoyed comparing this NAS 46%abv peater with a cask strength non-peated Edradour. They bore little resemblance, but more about that on Friday. On to the Ballechin review!
Distillery: Edradour
Malt: Ballechin
Ownership: Signatory Vintage Scotch Whisky Co., Ltd.
Region: Highlands (Central)
Age: ???
Age: ???
Bottling year: 2011
Maturation: Bourbon Barrels
Limited Bottling: 6000
NOTESLimited Bottling: 6000
Alcohol by Volume: 46%
Chillfiltered? No
Colorant added? No
(from a purchased sample)
Chillfiltered? No
Colorant added? No
(from a purchased sample)
The peat does indeed have a coffee grounds character to it in the nose. The mint extract and anise. Small notes of a sugar glaze, cigarettes and smoked fish. The palate balances light sweetness, gentle citrus and moderate peat. It also has an OBE-like note of glass and metal. Bitter smoke builds with time. There's a tiny bit of vanilla but there's much more apricot and white peach. It finishes with limes, cigarettes and seaweed. Just a little bit of sweetness.
WORDS WORDS WORDS
This very solid peated whisky reminds me of the early Kilchoman Machir Bay release with more maturity and maybe a few drops of Laphroaig thrown in. Like Batch 3, it reads even larger than its 46%abv, while also being dangerously drinkable. Though it's not the most complex peated whisky, the little bits of fruit in the palate and the coffee grounds in the nose give it some very cool angles. Yeah, I'd choose this over the 10-year-old.
On Friday, a sherried Edradour. But for now...
Availability - Maybe the secondary market?
Pricing - ???
Rating - 87
I'm totally with you on the quality and qualities of these releases, easy-drinking, highly satisfying, with complexity in plain sight, if that's a thing. I will check on the Machir Bay comparison as well. Another one that fits this bill for me recently is Lagavulin 8yo (which I prefer to the 16yo). It also seems that some smart people figured out that the best drinking ABV is in the 46-48% range, a thing all these have in common.
ReplyDeleteYeah, I've been wondering if my palate is turning old and creaky on me, only enjoying stuff in that 46-48% range. But I'm going to say it has gained wisdom. I do like the Lagavulin 8, and it makes me wish they would bump up the 16 to that strength.
DeleteReminds me of the highlight of your blogging career: Nicholas Diageo Morgan hisself commenting on your Lagavulin 8yo review. Or did I dream that?
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