Burnside Whisky Blended

Burnside is a unique 'blended malt' Scotch whisky created through a practice known as 'teaspooning.' When Balvenie distillery (owned by William Grant & Sons) sells casks of their new make spirit to independent bottlers, they add a tiny amount (approximately 1%) of Glenfiddich—another Grant's distillery—to prevent the bottler from marketing it as a pure Balvenie single malt. This protects Balvenie's brand integrity while allowing them to trade casks commercially. The resulting whisky, primarily Balvenie with a hint of Glenfiddich, is labeled 'Burnside' by independent bottlers. It offers whisky enthusiasts a chance to experience Balvenie's character through a different lens, often at more accessible price points than official Balvenie bottlings. This practice is common in the Scotch whisky industry as a way for distilleries to maintain control over their brand identity while participating in the cask trading market.