BALLECHIN 2010 Over 5 Years 9th Edition ARTIST S.V

Colour: bright gold.

Nose: refined, balanced. Placed atop subtle notes of cut hay and white mint, a mineral (sleet), camphoric, saline and rather dry peat spreads across the surface of the aromatic palette. In the depths, coconut milk, vanilla and incense appear alongside sage and rosemary. Gradually, soot and smoke come to the front of the stage to play leading roles. Note that the nose has become increasingly gamy (bacon, smoked fish).

Palate: clear, lively. The attack is very unlike the nose and particularly dynamic (citrus fruit zest). Its acidic character is softened by bourbon vanilla and a fine layer of liquorice. On the mid-palate, peat knocks over everything in its path. Overflowing with mineral salts, it is also chocolatey. The consistency is also more oily than the nose might have implied. At the end of the palate, fresh fruits (pear, Mirabelle plum) refresh the palate at just the right moment.

Finish: long, generous. A perfect summary of the nose and palate, the start of the finish eloquently stages barley being dried in the kiln. Saturated by smoke, the very end of the palate strides towards an earthy, mineral (chalk), saline, herbal (black tea) and medicinal (ointment) retro-nasal olfaction. The empty glass is characterized by iodine tincture and heady florals (violet, lavender).