Teaspooned Whisky

Some of Scotland's most sought-after single malts aren't sold under their own name at all.

They hide behind pseudonyms like Burnside, Wardhead and Williamson – invented to protect a trademark, but turned into a full sport for collectors with a sharp eye for detail.

One teaspoon of something else in the cask, and suddenly the law says something entirely different than your nose and palate do.

Burnadjacent 1989 Little Brown Dog 36 year old Teaspooned Balvenie Blended Scotch Whisky 70 cl 47,6%

Item no.: 211869-9632

One teaspoon is all it takes to erase a name forever. That's one of Scotch whisky's stranger rules, and it's the story behind this bottle from a farm in Aberdeenshire, where two friends distil, mature and name their finds with a wink.
Expert description
Little Brown Dog Burnadjacent 1989 is a Blended Malt Scotch Whisky matured in a Refill Hogshead and bottled at 47.6%. Behind the bottle is Little Brown Dog Spirits, an independent bottler and micro-distillery based on a farm in Fetternear, Aberdeenshire. The company was founded in 2018 by veterinarian Andrew Smith and farmer Chris Reid, who have since built their own small world around single casks, transparency about their process, and a healthy dose of humour in how they name things.
The name Burnadjacent is a joke with a serious backstory. This whisky is teaspooned — a tiny amount of another malt was added to the cask, which legally means neither the distillery's name nor its usual trade nickname can appear on the label. This spirit is understood to be Balvenie, traditionally nicknamed "Burnside" in the trade — hence Little Brown Dog's play on words with Burnadjacent. Balvenie itself doesn't appear anywhere on the bottle, but the connection has been confirmed independently by several UK specialist retailers.
The cask was filled on 15 November 1989 and left undisturbed ever since — 36 years in a single refill hogshead, giving the spirit time to develop the kind of tropical fruit character that only shows up after very long ageing. Bottling took place on 27 July 2026, with no reduction and no added colour, straight at cask strength, yielding just 321 bottles.
The bottle belongs to Little Brown Dog's rarer releases, one of the handful of single casks in their ongoing series of small annual batches, and it has already sold out quickly at several of the international retailers who received a share of the outturn.
Tasting notes
Nose
Kiwi and mandarin sit alongside the dusty scent of an old bookshop — the sweet, papery note you typically only find in genuinely old rarities.
Palate
On the palate it unfolds as peach iced tea, quickly followed by fresh mango and a touch of lime that keeps things light despite the age.
Finish
The finish is long and a little unexpected: pecan pie, a touch of sea salt, and a richness reminiscent of good olive oil that lingers well after the last sip.
Specifications
Name: Little Brown Dog Burnadjacent 1989 36 Year Blended Malt Scotch Whisky
Distillery: Balvenie
Bottler: Little Brown Dog Spirits
Region/Country: Speyside, Scotland
Type: Blended Malt Scotch Whisky
Age: 36 Year
ABV: 47.6%
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: Refill Hogshead
Non-chill filtered: Yes
Natural colour: Yes
Distilled: 15 November 1989
Bottled: 27 July 2026
Number of bottles: 321
Edition: Single Cask
Flavour profile
Tropical · Fruity · Complex · Old
Investment potential
Medium. Just 321 bottles from a single cask, 36 years of maturation that can never be repeated, and an independent bottler with a growing reputation all point to a bottle likely to rise in standing and demand over time. It's already hard to find at the retailers who had it.
Did you know?
Little Brown Dog is named after one very real dog. Founder Andrew Smith's four-legged companion followed him everywhere on distillery visits and was known in the family simply as "the little brown dog." She passed away in 2022 at the age of 15, but still lives on in the logo and on the labels today.
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See our full range of Little Brown Dog
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1pcs.
227,75EUR
Burnside 14 year old Woodrows of Edinburgh Single Speyside Malt Scotch Whisky 70 cl 52%

Item no.: 222233-8554

Sometimes the label says less than it could. Burnside is one of those names used when a distillery does not want its real name on the bottle — but the character in the glass is unmistakable.
Please note: Burnside is the designation for so-called teaspooned Balvenie. It means a cask from the Balvenie distillery has had a minimal amount of spirit from another distillery added, typically Glenfiddich. This is done to prevent the whisky being marketed as an official Balvenie single malt, but it still clearly carries Balvenie's character.
Expert description
Burnside 14 Years Woodrow's of Edinburgh is a Single Speyside Malt Scotch Whisky from Single Cask #900019, bottled at cask strength, 52%, without chill filtration and without added colour.
The whisky was distilled on 27 April 2011, and the cask gave 330 bottles. Woodrow's of Edinburgh is an independent bottler based in Leith that buys and matures casks in its own bonded warehouse and bottles in small batches or as single casks.
The house philosophy is about bringing out the personality of the individual cask rather than smoothing it away. Natural colour, no filtration and cask strength are standard, and that makes the bottlings considerably more direct than most official releases.
Tasting notes
Nose
Honey and malted grain with baked apple, vanilla and a trace of flower honey.
Palate
Full and sweet with honey cake, dried fruit and pale oak. The strength brings warmth without shouting.
Finish
Long and dry with grain, spice and a lightly bitter oak note.
Specifications
Name: Burnside 14 Years Woodrows of Edinburgh Single Speyside Malt Scotch Whisky 70 cl 52%
Distillery: Burnside
Bottler: Woodrow's of Edinburgh
Region/Country: Speyside, Scotland
Type: Single Speyside Malt Scotch Whisky
Age: 14 years
ABV: 52%
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: Single Cask #900019
Non-chill filtered: Yes
Natural colour: Yes
Distilled: 27/04/2011
Number of bottles: 330
Flavour profile
Honeyed · Malty · Fruity · Spiced · Powerful
Investment potential
Medium. A single cask of 330 bottles from a smaller bottler, and teaspooned names like Burnside have a steady following among collectors of Speyside malt.
Did you know?
The practice of teaspooning arose because distilleries wanted to sell casks without losing control of their own trademark. A single spoonful from another distillery legally turns the whisky into a blended malt.
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1pcs.
113,75EUR
Watt Whisky 2012/2024 Dalrymple 11 Years Old Lowland Blended Malt Scotch Whisky 70 cl 57,1%

Item no.: 059763-615-111224

Lowland whisky rarely takes up much shelf space, and a blended malt from the region is rarer still. "Dalrymple" is the name Watt Whisky has given this rich, sweet-toned release.
The expert's description
Watt Whisky 2012/2024 Dalrymple 11 år Lowland Blended Malt Scotch Whisky 70 cl 57,1% is a Lowland Blended Malt Scotch Whisky, matured in Hogshead and bottled at 57.1%.
The whisky was distilled in 2012 and bottled in 2024 by Watt Whisky from a hogshead, with an outturn of 294 bottles. "Dalrymple" is a rare Lowland blended malt that, after 11 years of maturation, has developed a full, delicate flavour profile with sweetness and nutty nuances.
Tasting Notes
Nose
Toffee apples and marzipan.
Palate
Creamy sweetness of honey cake and roasted peanuts.
Finish
Fruity finish of peach and crème brûlée.
Specifications
Name: Watt Whisky 2012/2024 Dalrymple 11 år Lowland Blended Malt Scotch Whisky 70 cl 57,1%
Distillery: Dalrymple
Bottler: Watt Whisky
Region/Country: Lowland, Scotland
Type: Lowland Blended Malt Scotch Whisky
Age: 11 years
ABV: 57.1%
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: Hogshead
Non-chill filtered: Yes
Natural colour: Yes
Distilled: 2012
Bottled: 2024
Number of bottles: 294
EAN no.: 5060825690997
Flavour Profile
Sweet · Nutty · Full-bodied
Did you know?
The Lowland region once produced the vast majority of Scotland's whisky, but today it is one of the smallest whisky regions, making independent releases like this one particularly interesting.
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1pcs.
99,00EUR
Dalrymple Come As You Are 2012/2023 Uncharted Whisky Co. 11 years old Lowlands Blended Malt Scotch Whisky 70 cl 55%

Item no.: 22227865480-67093-03896666666

A bottle named after a Nirvana song and a distillery that may not be named. Uncharted Whisky Co. makes a virtue of not taking itself too seriously.
Expert description
Dalrymple Come As You Are 2012/2023 Uncharted Whisky Co. 11 years is a Lowlands Blended Malt Scotch Whisky matured in an ex-oloroso sherry butt and bottled at cask strength of 55% without chill filtration and without added colouring.
The cask carries the number UC026, was filled in July 2012 and emptied in October 2023 with an outturn of 687 bottles. Dalrymple is the name the bottler uses for malt whisky from the Lowlands where the source may not be disclosed. The Lowlands is Scotland's gentlest region, and eleven years in an active sherry cask gives that light style a depth it otherwise rarely reaches.
Tasting notes
Nose
Dark fruit and cereal. Raisin, orange peel and a light herbal note, with cocoa and spice underneath.
Palate
Full for a Lowland malt. Dried fruit, malt and dark chocolate, with a dry sherry edge and a peppery warmth from the cask strength. The region's lightness is still there under the sweetness.
Finish
Long and dry, with nuts, dark fruit and a warm spiced close.
Specifications
Name: Dalrymple Come As You Are 2012/2023 Uncharted Whisky Co. 11 years Lowlands Blended Malt Scotch Whisky 70 cl 55%
Distillery: Lowlands Distilleries
Bottler: Uncharted Whisky Co.
Region/Country: Lowlands Scotland
Type: Lowlands Blended Malt Scotch Whisky
Age: 11 years
ABV: 55 %
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: Ex-oloroso sherry butt no. UC026
Non-chill filtered: Yes
Natural colour: Yes
Distilled: 07/2012
Bottled: 10/2023
Number of bottles: 687
Edition: Come As You Are
Flavour profile
Sherried · Dried Fruit · Malty · Spiced · Cask Strength
Investment potential
Medium. A single cask at cask strength in 687 bottles from a small-scale bottler. Lowland malt in active sherry wood is an unusual combination.
Did you know?
Uncharted Whisky Co. names its releases after songs. Come As You Are is Nirvana from 1991 — the same decade the whisky in the bottle was heading towards, if you count a few years from the record to the cask.
See our full range of Uncharted Whisky Co.
1pcs.
120,00EUR
Williamson 2005/2021 Coopers Choice 16 years Secret Islay Blended Malt Scotch Whisky 70 cl 51%

Item no.: 059763-615-18

Islay is known for its smoke, but "Williamson" is the name used when the distillery behind it prefers to stay hidden. This 16 year old from The Coopers Choice is a rare glimpse into the island's undisclosed side.
The expert's description
Williamson 2005/2021 Coopers Choice 16 år Secret Islay Blended Malt Scotch Whisky 70 cl 51% is a Secret Islay Blended Malt Scotch Whisky, matured in Bourbon cask, cask no. #800100 and bottled at 51%.
The whisky was distilled in March 2005 and bottled in 2021 by the independent merchant The Coopers Choice, from a single bourbon cask, no. #800100, with an outturn of just 204 bottles. As a Secret Islay Blended Malt, the original distillery is not disclosed, but the style clearly carries Islay's characteristic signature.
Tasting Notes
Nose
Smoky seaweed and a hint of sea salt.
Palate
Full-bodied with citrus and a light medicinal tone.
Finish
Long and smoky with lingering maritime depth.
Specifications
Name: Williamson 2005/2021 Coopers Choice 16 år Secret Islay Blended Malt Scotch Whisky 70 cl 51%
Distillery: Williamson
Bottler: The Coopers Choice
Region/Country: Islay, Scotland
Type: Secret Islay Blended Malt Scotch Whisky
Age: 16 years
ABV: 51%
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: Bourbon cask, cask no. #800100
Non-chill filtered: Yes
Natural colour: Yes
Distilled: 03.2005
Bottled: 2021
Number of bottles: 204
Edition: Limited Edition, Single Cask Release
Flavour Profile
Smoky · Maritime · Full-bodied
Did you know?
The name Williamson is used by several independent bottlers as a shared label for releases from undisclosed Islay distilleries, making it one of the most recognisable "secret" names in the whisky world.
See our full range of Coopers Choice
1pcs.
138,00EUR

What Is Teaspooned Whisky?

A teaspooned whisky isn't a lie – it's a legal necessity dressed up as mystery. When a distillery sells casks to independent bottlers or whisky brokers, they rarely want their name on a bottle they haven't approved down to the last detail. The fix is as simple as it is clever: pour a teaspoon of another whisky – often from a distillery under the same owner – into the cask. That makes the spirit no longer 100% from the original distillery, and the law demands a new name on the label. For the collector, drinking the whisky is only half the fun. The other half is working out what's actually hiding in the bottle.

History & Background

The practice has its roots in Scotch whisky regulations, which only let a single malt carry a distillery's name if it's 100% from that one place. When independent bottlers such as Gordon & MacPhail, Cadenhead's and Signatory really took off in the 1980s and 90s, the big owners – Diageo, William Grant & Sons, Edrington and others – faced a dilemma: they wanted to sell casks, but not let outsiders sell Laphroaig or Balvenie under their own name. The pseudonyms were born as a quiet fix, and today they're a fixed part of the whisky world's inside language.

Production & Style

The teaspoon itself is often just a couple of litres in a cask holding several hundred – enough to change the legal status, not enough to change the character noticeably. In flavour, the spirit is practically identical to the original single malt. It's the rules that change name – not the distillate.

Signature Style

The flavour depends entirely on who's actually hiding behind the name. A Williamson tastes almost like Laphroaig – smoky, tarry, salty from the sea. A Westport leans on Glenmorangie's light, floral style. What they all share is that they taste far closer to their secret origin than to each other.

Facts

Category	Pseudonym Whisky ("Teaspooned" Single Malt)
Origin	Scotland
Purpose	Protecting the distillery's trademark and name
Practice used by	Major owner groups such as William Grant & Sons, Edrington and Diageo
Known pseudonyms	Burnside, Wardhead, Westport, Williamson, Aldunie, Dalrymple, Blairfindy, Staoisha, Margadale

Collector's Angle

Among collectors, teaspooned whisky is its own little sport. Some chase the bottles because they get a famous single malt at a price that doesn't carry the expensive name. Others chase them because the guessing game itself is the reward – whole forums exist dedicated to comparing notes and unmasking which distillery hides behind a new pseudonym. Once the identity is confirmed, prices on rare releases can climb noticeably.

Did You Know?

The name Williamson – often used for Laphroaig – honours Bessie Williamson, who in 1954 became the first woman ever to head a Scotch distillery.

Like Teaspooned Whisky?

Then you might also like Balvenie, Laphroaig and Glenfarclas – three distilleries whose names occasionally hide behind a pseudonym.

Teaspooned Whisky