Ballechin #5 The Marsala Casks review

Ballechin #5 The Marsala Casks turned out to be a great rugged single malt. Full of rough but pleasant peat, a whisky with attitude! Malt Maniacs gave it a Silver Medal.

Balblair 1989 along with Ballechin #5 in Kerttulin Kievari, Turku’s best whisky bar

This heavily peated whisky from Edradour distillery is the fifth release from the Ballechin series, aged in Marsala casks. The named Ballechin comes from a closed distillery nearby Edradour.

Like someone from the THE WILD BUNCH

This peat monster gave me bit of The Wild Bunch theme. Not an aging outlaw though, like in the movie by Sam Peckinpah. This whisky is young and it shows. But not in a bad way. The non-complexity suits this dram fine.

I suggest you to try it, if you can find it. I think it’s a rarity nowadays.

Nose: Very strong peat combined with malt. Big earthly tones and a small floral note. And small hints of coconut on the back.

Taste: The force is strong in this one. Peat is salty and rough. But there is some sweet and bitter notes as well: mix of ginger ale and lemon before the peat monster attack.

Finish: You know where I’m going. Peat! Simple but lasting end with peat, ashes and earthly notes.

Balance: Straight forward single malt. No complexity and young but good!

Colour: Dark amber
Nose: 22  |  Taste: 22  |  Finish: 22  |  Balance: 22
Overall score: 88

Distillery: Edradour
Region: Highland
ABV: 46%

Balblair 1989 and Ballechin #5 again, in Kerttulin Kievari