Ballechin 8 Year Double Malt Double Cask

Reviewer's assessment: 19/23. This was tasted blind; the only information provided was that it originates from the highlands and is under a decade old. Nose: It presents with smokiness, an oily texture, and a touch of tartness, reminiscent of both lemon and grapefruit peel. It's oily and peaty, but thankfully lacks any sulfur, raw meat, or industrial notes that might suggest excessive youth. There's also a grassy quality that gradually evolves into something akin to Springbank's characteristic farmyard funk. A faint hint of mint emerges from this mild peatiness, though one might question if it's truly peat or just bitter, funky herbal notes. Occasionally, faint wisps of apple appear. Given its character, I suspect a northern highland origin. Distilleries like Old Pulteney or perhaps a young Clynelish come to mind. The significant oiliness also brings Brora to mind. Palate: It's smooth, oily, with a subtle spicy tingle. The smoothness is remarkable, possessing a rich, savory yet well-balanced sweetness. The smoke is mellow, accompanied by mild, somewhat dry roasted meat notes – think roast chicken breast with a hint of sirloin. A fruity element is present, like baked apple with a touch of grapefruit peel. Spices include cinnamon, ginger, clove, and a whisper of black pepper. Hints of grassiness occasionally transition to toast, but this is minimal. Herbal undertones emerge from the grassy notes, leaning slightly towards peat, but less so than even Talisker 10. Side-by-side, this dram makes Talisker 10 seem vibrantly fruity. Its oily richness far surpasses Old Pulteney 12, which is saying something. Old Pulteney 12 is considerably sweeter, highlighting that while this whisky isn't devoid of sweetness, it's not a sweet profile. The exceptional balance and integration of all components are striking. It exhibits a surprising maturity and solid complexity. Finish: Smooth and oily, it maintains the rich character from the palate for an extended period. Some toast notes reappear, but the fruit and spices (save for a slight tingle) have faded. Conclusion: Its age of under 10 years is astonishing, as it lacks youthful flaws and possesses the smoothness, mellowness, and integrated flavors of a spirit closer to 20 years old. This is a unique and captivating dram. The producer of such a quality whisky under 10 years deserves recognition. Compared to That Boutique-y Whisky Company's Auchroisk 19 (rated 17/23), this offers a more subtle and slightly more complex experience. The milky texture of the Auchroisk is the closest I could find to this whisky's oiliness without resorting to an overwhelmingly smoky profile. The way the flavor evolves with swirling is particularly impressive here, placing it above the Auchroisk for me. It competes well with Cadenhead's Tullibardine 25 (19/23) and significantly outperforms Talisker 10 and Old Pulteney 12. I'm torn between an 18 and a 19, but its distinctiveness pushes me to a 19. A truly exquisite and fascinating spirit! In a final comparison, it seems closest to Clynelish 14, but with considerably more oil and without the dry tartness leading to waxiness. Perhaps it's a more robust blend of Old Pulteney and Clynelish? Or maybe, without having tried Dailuaine, that could be its identity? Reveal: Edradour Ballechin 8! I haven't tried Edradour before but appreciate its pronounced oiliness, possibly from the 25% sherry cask aging. Surprisingly, 75% of this is peated! I'd heard Ballechin uses mellow, earthy peat, and now I've experienced it. This enhances my anticipation for upcoming American single malts using Washington peat. The overall experience makes me eager to explore more Edradour. My sincere thanks to a friend for sharing this intriguing dram. It's mind-boggling that a scotch, especially a peated one, can be so mellow and mature at such a young age. While perhaps a touch too subtle, it's a delightful dram nonetheless.

I opened this bottle some time ago to share samples with several individuals, but I never actually tried a pour. I finally decided to have a dram last night; I had actually forgotten I even had the bottle. This is an 8-year bottling comprising 3 Ballechin bourbon casks and 1 Edradour Sherry cask. Ballechin is simply the peated version of Edradour. However, it presents a very different type of peat than Islay whiskies; it has an earthier, musky aroma and flavor instead of the bonfire or medicinal iodine style. I am a fan of Ballechin, as I've always thought it was overlooked. But then again, I feel Edradour itself is often underrated. This expression takes the earthy, gritty Ballechin and softens it with a touch of nutty sweetness. There's nothing inherently wrong with it, but I feel it's holding back. At 8 years old, I expected it to be more intense and rougher, but instead, the Edradour Sherry aspect tempered the Ballechin side. Yes, you still detect the mushroom-like aroma and the damp earth taste, but with some sweetness. It feels somewhat disconnected, as if the sherry sweetness is operating separately from the peaty Ballechin. I believe a few more years in the cask would have truly integrated this, elevating it from merely acceptable and inoffensive to a highly recommended status. Overall, it's not bad... just not as bold as I prefer my Ballechins, and the cask integration was too brief, much like a celebrity couple divorcing shortly after marrying. I'm giving it a 3, which in my view is a passing grade, like a C.

Nose: Peaty smoke, sweet notes, red berries, caramel, honey, peppery spice, and a hint of acidity with some vanilla. The aroma is very intriguing, with some scents hidden in sub-layers requiring time to fully appreciate. Palate: Sweetness, fruitiness, vanilla, caramel, smoke, pepperiness, a noticeable bitterness, honey, red berries, and a slight acidity. There's an excellent balance between sherry and bourbon cask influences, with both characteristics distinctly present. The alcohol is somewhat apparent, but at 46% ABV, it's not entirely unexpected. Finish: Medium to long, with lingering bitterness and sweetness followed by very pleasant smoke, reminiscent of bacon. Overall Impression: This small distillery, known as 'the wee gem of Scotland,' produces an excellent whisky, unfiltered and without caramel coloring. Its decent ABV enhances the aromas and flavors. Don't be fooled by its 8 years; it drinks like a 12-year-old or older, depending on the comparison. It's a complex, flavorful, and intriguing whisky suitable for all levels of appreciation. Best enjoyed neat; adding ice or water would significantly diminish the experience.

Aroma: cherries, caramel, earthy smoke, orange peel, ocean spray Palate: spice cake, orange, light smoke Finish: barrel char, peat, sherry This is good but somewhat unfocused. The aroma is the best part. The palate is a bit plain in comparison but has a somewhat viscous mouthfeel. The finish is pleasant. It strongly reminds me of the BenRiach Smoky Twelve.

Excellent harmony between peat smoke and sherry sweetness. (Perfect aroma, palate leans slightly towards peat.)

This seems to be the entry for 'Cuvee'. From Dramfest 2020. Average. Rated 3.75.