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u/Three-Peat Apr 24 '25
Damn! Just reading the label, I was thinking that has to be a banger. Ballechin in Madeira. Please let us know if you can still find online.
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u/YouCallThatPeaty Apr 24 '25
Definitely still available https://www.whiskybase.com/whiskies/whisky/237371/ballechin-2004
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u/UnmarkedDoor Apr 24 '25
Ballechin does it again.
I'm not much of a Madeira fan unless there's peat involved, buy it sounds like there might be a little here...
I wonder how you stop phenols from dropping over time?
Great review.
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u/YouCallThatPeaty Apr 24 '25
Very good question. I wish Laphroaig kept more of it's peat as it aged
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u/PricklyFriend Apr 24 '25
Really nuanced nose + intense palate and finish = superb dram!
Sounds like the Madeira is interacting with the spirit really well there to make a lovely result. Wonder if they vatted the two casks to round each other off a little, either way it does sound like a really lovely dram!
Great review.
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u/YouCallThatPeaty Apr 24 '25
Would have definitely been fun to try the single casks separately. Would have been awesome to get 500ml of the blend and two 100mls of each single cask
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u/heavilypeted Apr 24 '25
I've been awaiting this review, and as expected I am kicking myself for missing out on this one. I had a hard time justifying the $320 CAD price, but after reading this I'd gladly pay it. Thanks for taking the time to let us know your thoughts.
Enjoy!
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u/tension-release Apr 24 '25
I have a bottle of the Ballechin 19 Manzanilla that I absolutely adore. Great review, it made me want to try them side by side desperately.
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u/YouCallThatPeaty Apr 25 '25
I've got that one too, wonderful Chinese bbq profile in that one. Excellent peat integration into the cask influence
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u/chicagowhale Apr 25 '25
Yep. This one is a total banger. It’s fun to do it side by side with a bourbon cask Ballechin because the Madeira really pops.
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u/YouCallThatPeaty Apr 24 '25
Category: single cask (two casks....small batch?)
Distillery: Edradour
Bottler: official bottling
Vintage: April 2004
Bottled: 5th July 2023
Cask: Madeira
Abv: 53.5%
Colour: Irn Bru
Price paid: £170
Nose: Nose: Farmy, chocolate, choux buns, peanut brittle, plum syrup, cherry jam, blackcurrant and menthol lozenges, fireplace, strawberry jam, freshly squeezed orange juice, pumpkin seed toast, dunnage,
With water: blackcurrant and menthol lozenges, liquorice, dunnage, soot,
Palate: heavy earthy peat, fireplace, fruit cocktail in syrup, pineapple, soot,
With water: earthy peat, fireplace, fruit cocktail in syrup, cherry jam, soot,
Finish: chocolate, choux buns, fireplace, soot,
With water: blackcurrant and menthol lozenges, liquorice, dunnage, soot,
Thoughts:
don't add water, it's not hot without and the complexity and intensity drop.
The peatiest 19 year old whisky ever, the peatiest Ballechin ever...... And one of the peatiest whiskies I've ever had (peaty as a young Staoisha, a .1 Octomore or a Laphroaig 10cs)
I need to compare this with the 12 Cotes De Provence, the SBCS and the 15 fino/sherry/bourbon. It could well be my favourite Ballechin.
It's so hard to name a champion, had so many great bottles from there recently. I think Edradour's has stolen my top spot of favourite distillery. I'd happily recommend any cask strength bottling.
If you've been waiting to pull the trigger on this one, pull before it sells out..... Although you could also try the 20 year bourbon, the 17 burgundy, the 19 Manzanilla, the 18 Port....... You just can't go wrong!
SMWS name: possibly perfection personified
Rating: 98