A MULLED WINE FROM THE CHRISTMAS MARKET – Score: 6.5/10
We return to Edradour, this time in its peated incarnation known as Ballechin. But where, exactly, does the name “Ballechin” come from? Edradour is self-explanatory—the name of the distillery itself. Yet why adopt Ballechin for the peated version?
Two reasons are commonly cited, one of which is delightfully eccentric and quintessentially Scottish. The first refers to a now-defunct distillery once located near the village of Ballinluig, not far from where the current Edradour distillery stands. The second is more enigmatic: it alludes to Ballechin House, once owned by the Steuart family, who also held the distillery bearing their name. Following the death of the family patriarch, a series of paranormal events allegedly took place there, casting a ghostly fame over the estate.
Since then, Ballechin has earned the reputation of being a “ghost whisky”—a legacy furthered by its intensely peated character.
This 13-year-old expression is no exception, offering a chimney smoke profile enveloping vinous notes and hints of dried grapes. The finish grows deeper, revealing accents of licorice and chicory, resulting in a heady and evocative tasting experience.
At 54.9% ABV, the alcohol reinforces the sense of intensity on the palate, making this whisky a natural choice for aficionados of powerful spirits.
