Edradour Ballechin 15 years old SBCS 2022 1st Release Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky 70 cl 58.9%

SBCS is Ballechin's take on small, hand-picked batches — every batch with its own personality, but always with the same insistent peat underneath.

The expert's description

Edradour Ballechin 15 years old SBCS 2022 1st Release is a Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky matured in bourbon and sherry casks and bottled at 58.9%.

SBCS stands for Small Batch Cask Strength, and this 1st Release is the first bottling in the peated arm of the series. The whisky matured for 15 years, split between 1st fill bourbon barrels and 2nd fill Oloroso sherry butts, which gives it both vanilla sweetness and a darker, dried-fruit character. 3,520 bottles were released to the global market.

Tasting notes

Nose

Smoked caramel and ripe plums, with a hint of the sherry's nutty depth and a touch of fresh tar.

Palate

Full-bodied and powerful at cask strength, with peat smoke woven together with raisin, dark brown sugar and a slightly bitter cocoa note.

Finish

Long and spicy with lingering smoke, dried figs and a dry, faintly gripping finish.

Specifications

Name: Edradour Ballechin 15 years old SBCS 2022 1st Release Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky 70 cl 58.9%
Distillery: Edradour Ballechin
Region/Country: Highland, Scotland
Type: Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Age: 15 years
ABV: 58,9 %
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: 1st fill bourbon barrels and 2nd fill Oloroso Sherry butts
Non-chill filtered: Yes
Natural colour: Yes
Distillation method: Double distilled
Bottled: 2022
Number of bottles: Only 3,520 bottles
Edition: SBCS 1st Release
EAN no.: 5021944116713

Flavour profile

Peated · Sherry-matured · Spicy

Did you know?

The Ballechin series is always bottled without chill filtration and with no added colour — the philosophy being that the whisky should show itself without any cosmetic intervention.

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Frequently asked questions about Edradour Ballechin 15 yo SBCS 2022 1st Release

What does SBCS stand for?

SBCS stands for Small Batch Cask Strength — small batches bottled at their natural cask strength without dilution.

Which casks were used for this 1st Release?

A combination of 1st fill bourbon barrels and 2nd fill Oloroso sherry butts, which together give both sweetness and darker fruit notes.

How many bottles were released?

3,520 bottles were sent out to the global market for this 1st Release.

Is 58.9% too strong to drink neat?

It can certainly be enjoyed neat, but a small splash of water will soften the texture and open up the sweeter sherry notes.

Is it worth the money compared to other Ballechin releases?

Yes — the combination of cask strength, dual cask maturation and being the first release in the SBCS series makes it an attractive entry into Ballechin's more complex side.

Will there be more releases in the SBCS series?

Yes, Edradour has continued the series with further releases, but each batch is unique and disappears once sold out.