The third release of Ballechin, from 2008, is a 5 Year Old whisky. Ballechin is Edradour peated up to 50 ppm, matured on a whole plethora of cask types. Deze batch matured on port casks.
Boy, what a delicious nose! The peat translates into a slightly medicinal touch (think iodine), that is content with a supporting role. The leading role is clearly reserved for nuts and summer fruit. Think pineapple, oranges, Pink Lady, apricots on syrup. Some ginger and liquorice and, do not laugh, whipped cream. If it can maintain this complexity until the finish, we have a winner.
On the palate (which is quite creamy) the peat takes the reigns again, making the smoke pretty big, while underneath it is mostly apricots on syrup that rear their heads. Even reminds me a bit of eggnog. Well spiced on cinnamon, ginger and liquorice.
The smoky and sweet finish lasts wonderfully long.
Bingo! And Edradour, albeit the peaty version, that is really outstanding. Andrew, you know what to do, sir. More Ballechin please!
This is NAS, right? What's the source on it being five years old?
I recently opened mine (finally!) and my club tasted it alongside the Longrow RED Port. I think this earned more adherents than the Longrow did. (Both very good, mind you.)