
June 24, 2026

WF's Little Duos: today official Balvenie and indie Burnside

As a reminder, Burnside is the name given to ‘teaspooned’ Balvenie, a practice whereby the local pensioners’ Bridge Club in Dufftown (or is it the Scrabble Club?) is entrusted with adding a teaspoonful of Glenfiddich or Kininvie to a few thousand casks of Balvenie. Every week.

Balvenie 12 yo 2012/2025 (47.3%, OB, A collection of Curious Casks, Montilla Wine Seasoned Cask)

Montilla lies north of Malaga, therefore quite some distance from Jerez, and the two should never be confused. Montilla wines are chiefly produced from PX grapes, either sweet or dry, so let us see what we can detect here... Colour: gold, which might suggest a dry PX, rather in the fino style. Nose: huge amounts of peach and apricot jam, with a little honey, followed by assorted pastries, scones, muffins and the like. I find it rather well balanced overall. There is also a faint jellybean side. Mouth: the sweets return, lightly peppery, including those little Mexican agave sweets, followed by bay leaves and candied ginger. A few drops of orange liqueur bring even more sweetness, while some grey pepper also begins to emerge. Finish: medium in length, rather more peppery, slightly bitter and fairly oaky. Comments: pleasant, well-made and thoroughly enjoyable, although I find that the intrinsic Balvenieness is somewhat smothered here.
SGP:651 - 80 points.

Burnside 35 yo 1989/2025 (53%, Archive, barrel, blended malt, cask #2500727, 268 bottles)

A fine age, matured in a barrel, so everything ought to go perfectly well here, and we are already bracing ourselves for an avalanche of mirabelles, apricots and quinces. Colour: white wine. Very pale for a 35-year-old. Nose: exactly as we had anticipated (a touch of modesty please, S.), the mirabelles, apricots and quinces come charging in at full speed, followed as faithfully as their own shadow by candied citron. It is simply perfect. With water: a notable arrival of fresh cake, buttery croissants and touches of almond milk. Mouth (neat): fresh and taut, zestier than the nose, with green pepper, blood oranges and, once again, quince paste. Excellent. With water: the water draws out even more citrus fruits of every description, which can only be a good thing. Quite a lot of orange blossom water as well. Finish: fairly long and fresh, on Earl Grey tea accompanied by a slice of toast spread with lemon marmalade. A couple of drops of bergamot liqueur in the aftertaste, which is very fashionable just now. Comments: this is really very good indeed, and entirely without the slightest flaw. The outcome of this little duo was rather predictable, it has to be said.
SGP:651 - 90 points.

Check the index of all Balvenie we've tasted