Ballechin 18 year 2003 TWE

This is a heavily peated single malt that was distilled back in 2003 then matured in a single refill hogshead for 18 years and bottled in September 2021 exclusively for The Whisky Exchange at 51.3% with a total output of 285 bottles. The nose starts with a mix of powdered sugar, caramelized peaches and tangy crispy pork belly then a fresh lite campfire with fallen leaves followed by bergamot orange, freeze dried apples, lime zest and vanilla creme brûlée that transitions to fresh picked herbs, cavernous minerality and charred hay bales with medium ethanol burn. The taste is a medium mouthfeel starting with creamy tropical fruits that quickly fades to tangy balsamic glazed short ribs followed by a mild ashy oak spice that fades to roasted cacao nibs and charred pine cones then fruits of cherries jubilee, candied limes and sautéed apples that transitions to anise, candied ginger, black pepper and pine sap with medium ethanol burn. The finish is long with roasted cacao nibs, key lime pie, tangy barbecue ribs, cavernous minerality and charred pine cones that lingers for minutes. This one is absolutely incredible that starts with a complex nose that balances notes of sweet fruits, tangy barbecued meats, hay and scorched earth to draw you in before the taste that takes the notes found on the nose and elevates the experience with some tropical fruits, charred forest and earthy chocolate before the finish that seems to last forever with a perfectly balanced mix of earthy minerality, burnt forest, charred meats and creamy citrus. This is near perfection for my palate with the main flaws being a slight out of balance bitterness on the taste and that the flavors aren't as dense and rich as I'd prefer. At the price of nearly $200, this is an expensive dram that really elevates the already fantastic taste of the Ballechin 10 year to showcase what an additional 8 years can do to the heavy peated distillate and would be an incredible addition to any peat head's collection.