Balvenie and Burnside


August 11, 2025

WF’s Little Duos, today
Balvenie and Burnside

Burnside is the name given to teaspooned Balvenie, as everyone knows, so it’s officially a blended malt. What we don’t know, however, is the size of the teaspoon used in the process, nor what it’s made of. Scrap metal? Brass? Copper? Silver? Solid gold?

Burnside 28 yo 1996/2025 (46%, Cadenhead, Original Collection)

A rather amusing case (sort of) since while these Burnsides are indeed produced by William Grant, it is WM Cadenhead who owns the brand. One imagines there’s ample material here to keep a few lawyers in cigars, but let’s not trouble ourselves with such matters between gentlemen. Colour: gold. Nose: unmistakable whiffs of slate, mirabelle plums and apricots, then yellow blooms, mimosa, chamomile, broom and yarrow… Followed by freshly baked brioche with the merest drop of orange blossom water. Classical, archetypal, fresh and upbeat, not what one would call a labyrinthine dram at 28. Mouth: fairly rich, heavily leaning towards honey and preserves, where apricot and mirabelle once more make a confident showing, joined by a juicy Williams pear. Syrupy notes then take the reins, rendering the whole affair rather luscious, though some citrus keeps things agreeably in check. Finish: medium in length, mostly on honeys and syrups drawn from yellow flowers and fruits, with a most decisive touch of mullein. A dusting of white pepper edges forward in the aftertaste. Comments: an utterly charming little dram, very much in the Balvenie mould. The reticent cask influence is an unqualified asset.
SGP:641 - 87 points.

Balvenie 19 yo ‘A Revelation of Cask and Character’ (47.5%, OB, The Balvenie Stories, European oak sherry, 2023)

A proper full maturation in sherry casks, which is rather less common than many would imagine. European oak is seldom used as well, come to that. This bottling pays tribute to those charming coopers, which is, of course, a much more familiar theme in whisky, isn’t it. Colour: full gold. Nose: all of Balvenie’s signature traits are on display here, as we’re not dealing with a full-blown sherry assault, though more in the direction of prunes wrapped in bacon than mirabelle jam, even if a few somewhat unexpected perfumy notes do flutter in—I’m thinking iris, a lightly musky edge, posh cologne, orange blossom water, even a splash of raspberry eau-de-vie… Mouth: stewed red fruits show themselves fairly boldly upfront, with even a slight sangria character (well done to the Spanish coopers!) yet the balance is never lost, as the oranges, including bitter ones, then march in to complete the picture, alongside dark honeys. A whisper of leather. Finish: the leather and cherry-scented tobacco take the reins, the whole being of moderate length. Comments: a very, very lovely variant of Balvenie, though we do still lean towards their versions showcasing massive yellow fruits, ha.
SGP:641 - 86 points.

Check the index of all Balvenie we've tasted