Whiskybase

Ballechin 15-year-old

Overall rating
87.15/100
votes
93
Whiskybase ID
WB185225
Category
Single Malt
Distillery
Bottler
Distillery Bottling
Bottling serie
Small Batch Cask Strength
Bottled
01.04.2021
Stated Age
15 years old
Casktype
1st Fill Bourbon Barrels & 2nd Fill Oloroso
Casknumber
Batch 1
Number of bottles
3126
Strength
59.4 % Vol.
Size
700 ml
Label
1st Release - Exclusive to Germany
Bottle code
L21/162
Barcode
5021944112470
Bottled for
Germany Exclusive
Market
de Germany
Added on
09 jun 2021 9:42 pm by roidrage
UncoloredNon-chillfilteredCask Strength
Ballechin 15-year-old
Photo by SIEBERTS WHISKYWELT
Ballechin 15-year-old
Photo by KirschImport

Average value

€ 108.88

Found 29 online shops. Lowest price:

€ 98.99
de The Whisky Cottage € 109.00
de Whiskyzone.de € 109.50
de Getränkewelt Weiser € 109.75
de Brühler Whiskyhaus € 109.90
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31 × in wishlist

93 × member ratings

258 × in collection

Whisky Reviews for Ballechin 15-year-old

31 users have left a review for this whisky and scored it an average of 87.15 points

  1. Captain Teague scored this whisky 88 points Expert Senior

    N: smoked ham...ashy smoke...burnt caramel, cookie dough, Chocolate (medium dark) briny...slight leather.. fruits hard to get to day ( some sour plums maybe...).. typical soapy note.. blueberry/ Brombeere.. .. after some sips.. cinnamon.. slight glu/polish

    M: Fat/ oily even after dilution..Briny, sweet burnt caramel... Sour and dark Woodberries (blueberry, raspberry etc) ... looks through (nice) ...smoked ham and cookie dough..some chocolate...nuts.. menthol note... cinnamon...green grapes with seeds(bitter /sour)...

    F:(medium length) salty, sweet (wethers echte after they gone) ash... lovely turns to medium bitter chocolate lava.. piment

    Definitely high in terms of roundness and balance.. alcohol well integrated / it takes (few drops) water really well / changes opens fruity notes / the fruits still stay a bit in the back most times... it has a lot to offer on different days...still it's not that much deeper or more complex compared to the 10yo... More sherry influence would be great here to separate it better from the young brother.

  2. WiltChamberlain scored this whisky 86 points Connoisseur

    • Nose
      86 86
    • Taste
      86 86
    • Finish
      85 85

  3. Brunobaer1887 scored this whisky 88 points Expert Senior

    Bacon, campfire, dates, lacquer, ash, oak, cherry - ballechin stop :D
    • Nose
      89 89
    • Taste
      88 88
    • Finish
      86 86

  4. Likudi scored this whisky 84 points Shoplink Moderator

    Sucked out sherry cask
    • Nose
      85 85
    • Taste
      84 84
    • Finish
      84 84

  5. glen efze scored this whisky 87 points Expert Senior

    A 15-year-old Balllechin with a large barrel, ambitiously priced at around € 100 ... Beautiful golden amber color.
    In the aroma, of course, the beautiful smoke from Ballechin stands out, which is still clear and concise even after 15 years. The smoke evokes associations of open fires and is not maritime and salty. There is also vanilla with warm, ripe fruits, cherries and sweet apples. As a subdued menthol note, the alcohol is not intrusive and does not mask the other aromas. The aroma is sweet and heavy with a bitter note of wood. The aroma of the warm vanilla becomes stronger with water.
    Without water, the whisky is mostly sweet and oily. With water streaking, the whisky remains strong and the smoke and wood notes unfold. Sweet fruit notes with smoky wood, wood notes of heavy fragrances. Caramel and in spite of the water, the alcohol strongly promotes the aromas.
    The finish is medium to long, the smoke is integrated with the wood.
    A whisky for the wing chair by the fireplace that demands attention but still remains cozy. Nice and unfortunately € 30 too expensive.

  6. dominikbraun scored this whisky 88 points Connoisseur

    The 59.4% are well involved. The alcohol stands out very easily from the smoke-and-aroma soup, but I wouldn't have guessed almost 60%. Interesting in taste, and in parts it kind of reminded me of Bowmore. I do not know why.

    Very voluminous, powerful and opinionated. I also like the barrel arrangement. However, with 1st Fill Bourbon Barrels, 2nd Fill Oloroso Casks, Rauch and 60% ABV there is hardly any space left for complexity from the age: It could have been 10 years old.
    • Nose
      88 88
    • Taste
      88 88
    • Finish
      87 87

  7. RJKrueger scored this whisky 87 points Expert Senior

    A malt that can compete with any Islay malt. What do you do when you think it's good and are convinced of the quality and yet it's not so 100% on my wavelength. I think I rated it fairly anyway. But there are others in front of him on my purchase list.
    • Nose
      87 87
      Ashy smoke and a bit of sweetness, the alcohol comes across as a bit too dominant. With a good drop of water it can be tamed without reducing the smoky note even a bit. Leather, tobacco and the sweetness penetrate a little more with water.
    • Taste
      88 88
      There is a lot of bang on the palate and here, too, you can tame it a little with water. The ashy smoke remains, but sweet notes of honey and light fruits show up. Sherry is there, but not dominant.
    • Finish
      85 85
      Clearly the finish is long and with more pronounced wood notes and cold ash. A little sherry can still be heard in the background.

  8. Cubey666 scored this whisky 87 points Connoisseur

    not a very surprising dram, but quite tasty indeed.
    • Nose
      peat, smoke, leather, macadamia nuts, walnuts, hazelnuts, bit coastal, seaweed, ash, smoke, tobacco, ketjap
    • Taste
      smoke, light ashy, peat, tobacco, peaches, warm alcohol burn, salty, soy sauce.
    • Finish
      a lot of smoke, ash, very salty, tobacco, chocolate, tea leaves.

  9. claymore84 scored this whisky 86 points Expert Senior

    tasted on 08-06-2022.

  10. Tom na Gruagaich scored this whisky 86 points Connoisseur

    Good drop. Typical ballerina. Overall very balanced. Not an extremely unusual bottling, but a fine drop. Only the PLV is solala.
    • Nose
      Fruity, herbaceous smoke. Clear smoke, but not extreme. Grassy green notes with a nice sweetness. Garden herbs, vanilla and a little sherry. Not spectacular, but beautiful and quite typical Ballechin. Over time I have the feeling of smoked candied fruit.
    • Taste
      Dry in the mouth. Some pepper, smoke, soot, oak. Definitely a dry herbaceous malt, but subtle sweetness in the background.
    • Finish
      The finish shows a nice sweetness, quite a peppery bit and a lot of smoke. The Highland variety, without maritime touches. Maybe a hint of sherry, but the sweetness mixes with the smoke and some minty flavors.

  11. Hegu scored this whisky 83 points Expert Junior

    Limited edition aimed at the German market.
    • Nose
      A match just before lighting, vanilla, smoke, herbs, honey.
    • Taste
      Herbal, dry, smoky.
    • Finish
      Smoothly smoky for a long time until the end.

  12. Dris scored this whisky 88 points Connoisseur

    • Nose
      88 88
    • Taste
      89 89
    • Finish
      88 88

  13. tancerz11111 scored this whisky 86 points Expert Senior

    • Nose
      86 86
    • Taste
      86 86
    • Finish
      85 85

  14. SherryPeathead scored this whisky 85 points Expert Junior

    • Nose
      82 82
    • Taste
      86 86
    • Finish
      86 86

  15. Bartek_097 scored this whisky 86 points Member Senior

    Salty caramel, peat completely different from Islay, a little mouth-tightening at the end of a light smoked ham
    • Nose
      86 86
    • Taste
      85 85
    • Finish
      86 86

  16. Roland7 scored this whisky 86 points Expert Junior

    Smoke, bandage, paint, building materials, smoked bacon, black pepper, laurel, walnut, dark chocolate, caramel, candy, lemon, grapefruit, pomegranate, wild red berries, red apple. Too strong.

  17. geriud scored this whisky 85 points Connoisseur

    • Nose
      86 86
    • Taste
      85 85
    • Finish
      84 84

  18. gaboruso scored this whisky 88 points Connoisseur

    • Nose
      88 88
    • Taste
      88 88
    • Finish
      87 87

  19. whiskyfan_olli scored this whisky 90 points Expert Senior

    • Nose
      89 89
    • Taste
      90 90
    • Finish
      90 90

  20. Expraesi scored this whisky 89 points Expert Senior

    • Nose
      88 88
    • Taste
      89 89
    • Finish
      89 89

  21. Dramming Dutchman scored this whisky 87 points Connoisseur

    An other very nice dram from Edradour distillery, I had this one in a blind tasting last friday. I was at the distillery in 2017 and am a fan since. I like Ballechin and the unpeated sherry bombs from independed like Ultimate, Signatory and from the distillery itself.
    • Nose
      88 88
    • Taste
      87 87
    • Finish
      87 87

  22. Dre73 scored this whisky 87 points Connoisseur

    Had this one in a blind tasting: Never would have thought of a Ballechin, allthough it certainly hasn't this typical Islay style of peat. Peaty it is, but more earthy, not too heavy on smoke, enough room for sweet and fruity notes.
    Very pleasant one for sure.
    • Nose
      87 87
      Fruity, earthy, a clear peaty touch. Later on more sweet notes. Not too heavy on the alcohol here.
    • Taste
      88 88
      Very intense, spicy. At first fruity, later on more peaty, some vanilla, earthy, vegetal, some plants.
    • Finish
      87 87
      Pepper, spicy, sparkling, peaty and a lot of sweet notes. Earthy, pretty long.

  23. Hvdree scored this whisky 88 points Connoisseur

    • Nose
      88 88
    • Taste
      89 89
    • Finish
      88 88

  24. dRambo scored this whisky 85 points Connoisseur

    • Nose
      87 87
    • Taste
      85 85
    • Finish
      83 83

  25. GIORGOS scored this whisky 88 points Connoisseur

    • Nose
      89 89
    • Taste
      88 88
    • Finish
      87 87

  26. Hlektrion scored this whisky 88 points Expert Senior

    • Nose
      88 88
    • Taste
      89 89
    • Finish
      88 88

  27. Hlektrion scored this whisky 88 points Expert Senior

    • Nose
      89 89
    • Taste
      88 88
    • Finish
      88 88

  28. BaggyGreen scored this whisky 84 points Expert Junior

    A powerful and highly interesting smoker from Ballechin, but powered up with too much oak influence, in my opinion, to be described as balanced. Therefore a score of less than 85.
    • Nose
      85 85
      There's lots of smoke from the word go. It seems relatively well integrated and reminds me of a combination of tarry ropes and a hint of warm bitumen. Not much happening on the fruity side - some fresh apples and pears showing up faintly, with a hint of orange zest. Then, there are distant notes of raisins and sultanas amid a hint of vanilla. At this stage you get the impression that the tannins are under control and well integrated.
    • Taste
      83 83
      Then, on the palate, things change. This is very mouth filling, yet strangely not particularly oily. It warms the entire mouth and throat quite intensely. Flavours then begin to come through such as salty licorice, bitter orange peel and moist earth notes. In the middle you can still sense the malted barley, but it's overshadowed by a light bitter sensation, some menthol and leather & tobacco notes as it comes to the end. Here the casks have the say. Why must they use first-fill bourbon? Simply too tannic and it obscures the fruit notes which otherwise might have had a chance to shine through, had refill hoggies made of American white oak been used. Unbalanced.
    • Finish
      84 84
      Drying black tea-bags, plenty of tannins, mouth-puckering. I would have liked some malty notes and a touch of sweetness or a clean citric note to round this off, but I didn't get any of that. Pity.

  29. Sporx scored this whisky 86 points Connoisseur

    Aroma
    Light smoke, sweetish, ham, some alcohol sharpness

    taste
    Sweet, smoky, greasy, dates, dark fruity, some salt, good pepper

    finish
    Medium length, a bit salty, sweet

  30. Igitor scored this whisky 89 points Connoisseur

    • Nose
      90 90
    • Taste
      88 88
    • Finish
      88 88

  31. DocF scored this whisky 88 points Expert Senior

    Color: Old Gold.

    I was afraid / hoped / ... that this would be this year's Tali 15 Special Release (also has the same age, I just noticed: mrgreen :). It is also good and not overly expensive, but not much better than the 10yo. Maybe you have to take the 59% pure: confused:

    So I will keep a clear purchase recommendation for the 10yo and the key data on the screen at Ballechin.
    • Nose
      Smells pleasantly unashy with burnt horn. Delicious! Also a little bit of what is called "medical". Tree sap, charred orange peel. Fresh. With water: even better, horn yes, also caramel, sweet baked apples, a little brine. Freshly sawn wood. Ashes afterwards, soot from candles, creaking campfire.
    • Taste
      Has less volts than the blind man, maybe some schnapps with it ... Yeah, with enough water he loses his peculiarities and becomes a run-of-the-mill smoker. With more volts it tastes like soot, horn, baked apples, humus, dry earth, musty wood, brackish water, balsam, mint. Very nice.
    • Finish
      Long finish, sooty and fragrant, burnt orange peel and oil from freshly squeezed lemon peel, some bitter smoke, bitter apple peel, horse hair.

Tastingtags

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