Ballechin 2003 TWE Exclusive
Bottle Name: Ballechin 2003 18 year old TWE Exclusive
Distillery: Edradour
Region: Highlands Age: 18
Another week, another Ballechin. No complaints for me – this is a distillate style that is rapidly gaining followers for a reason. TWE have acquired a single refill hogshead distilled back in 2003 and left for 18 years. The result has been bottled at 51.3% ABV and clocks in at £175.
Nose: Immediately meaty. A deli-shop collides with a road-side BBQ. Running throughout is a notable vegetalness – leaf mulch, leafy trees and a leaf fire. A bergamot citric lift is joined by vanilla-imbued toffee whilst a wet alluvial note of rain-soaked quarries sits with a well-established log fire. Dilution expresses ozone and petrichor alongside wet hay and damp sack cloth.
Taste: The firm arrival delivers deep, pronounced, tarry smoke. Ash and felt roofing joins bitumen whilst chocolate is livened with candied limes and a drop of balsamic BBQ glaze. Vegetalness is still palpable – less mulchy, more fresh – pine cones and sappy, still green twits and stems. Reduction offers a far more earthy openings with the peat and citrus pushed firmly into the back palate. It’s a notable different progression and brings with it anise, ginger and a touch of mentholated oak.
Finish: Long with persistently ashy smoke, chocolate richness and a cutting dose of tangy citrus.
There’s an admirable evenness throughout this TWE exclusive Ballechin. Whilst there’s plenty going on (and even more with a drop of dilution taking things down a notch), and some pretty robust aromas and flavours and play – nothing feels jagged or out of place. Great quality.
Review sample provided by The Whisky Exchange
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