Ballechin 19 2023 Manzanilla Sherry Casks, WB: 237370

In comparison to WB123517 Ballechin 14 2018 Mazanilla.

Woohoo, Ballechin 19, eldest. The 14 blows me away after been halfway through the bottle, has concentrated into a syrupy mass, the peat gives the Scotch a brilliant complexity. And now I'm hoping for - more? A stranger is just a friend you ain't met yet. What have I got to lose - money? What have you got to lose that you ain't already lost?

Nose 2h: In direct comparison to the B14: more warmth, cellar mustiness, not so fresh. Peat doesn't slaughter you. Very distinguished, sweet-umami spice cloud, cinnamon, Christmas spices, balsamic, grade A maple syrup, fir honey. After 3h dried porcini mushrooms.

Mouth 2.30h: B14 is a burner, bangs in. The V just made me more... me. Eternally long finish of the B14. Bad idea to compare both A-train vs Shockwave. Checking B19: date syrup with chili flakes, some dark chocolate, oily, brown sugar with cinnamon and nutmeg, 

Finish: oak on the finish. While B14 remains hot, B19 goes in the tannic direction. Astringent. Long but restrained compared to B14. Bay leaf. Espresso.

B14 is young and tumultuous. Ballechin 19 is more settled and knows things.

Expecting a happy ending, were we? Well, I'm sorry. It ain't that kind of massage parlor. - Billy Butcher.

93/100

Ballechin 18 Batch 001 2023, WB: 231983

Tengoku daimakyo. Annoyed. Straw-yellow. Glasses: AmberGlass G410, G501, Blenders Glass.
Yet another old ballechin, 18 - Nose 20-40min: - why carefree youth, Spanish coast, beautiful life, beautiful food Jamón ibérico with honeydew melon, sweet shop with lots of herbal sweets. The more you understand someone the more you become to appreciate them. But not this one...Not so light-hearted, anymore, hospital smells drift in, worry and medical warnings. Ominous laphroaigish. Mountain herbs and a hint of mint. Grog with citrus zest. Nothing comes out of the G410, money ’s gone af. Mouth: Phew, maneater. Peatmonster ’s coming. Salt and pepper. Unpleasant peatiness for me. Octomore and Laphroaig cross-bred. A monstrous peat. There is nothing ‘smooth’ here. Rages wildly. Finish: ginger, chilli, slightly astringent, oaky, blunt teeth, allspice, nutmeg, cinnamon. Scouring milk. Water tickles out a little more sweetness. Even if you can't find the answer right away, keep trying. That's what makes life worth living.'

84/100

Ballechin 2004, WB: 229138

Ballechin 2004

Mood: Curious. Series: Jack Ryan, Colour: dark amber, Glasses: Luxbe, Blhas. The oldest ballechin I've ever had that even exists in 2023, who knows. Reason to break the fast early. Sometimes you have to break a few rules just to get the job done. Nose after 1-2h: Sweaty horses, being fed, malt and oats mixed with fruits and fermented apples, Chardonnay on top. Riots, blockades and unrest. Garbage not picked up. France? Hamburg? Middle East! Tyres and furniture on fire. Smoke bombs maybe fireworks. Street fights dirt, sweet fruit, rot. Between all the plastic, a sausage grills along. It's better to be on the inside, maybe be able to change something, than be on the outside and not be able to change anything. Mouth: Spiciness, black pepper. Oily. Must and calvados. Some Federweisser. With water the drink loses intensity and sharpness, but also depth and becomes watery. No gain. Finish: Acidic, rotten fruit, burning - like the barricades, they stay late into the night. On both sides injured, hospital, disinfectant, troughs, plasters and all sorts of medical smells. Somewhere a tyre is still burning. The country will not rest. We have to examine every angle, consider every possibility. Especially the one that's staring us right in our face. - Greer.

82 / 100