Ballechin – 2007 13 YO Triebaumer Mariental Finish (70cl, 59.9%)

This is a 13 year old peated single malt from Ballechin, distilled in 2007 and bottled at a cask strength of 59.9% in a 70cl bottle. The outturn is 415 bottles. It spent its first 11 years in a bourbon cask, then a further 35 months in Blaufränkisch Mariental casks from the Burgenland winemaker Ernst Triebaumer. The nose is soft for the strength, with dry smoke up front, then the tannins of the Blaufränkisch and a slightly bacony smoke. The palate is sweet and smoky, then lightly maritime and iodine, giving way to barrique notes and ripe smoked blackberry. The finish is long and smoky, with the Blaufränkisch returning at the end.