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.

Burnside 14 year old Woodrows of Edinburgh Single Cask #900018 Single Speyside Malt Whisky 52%

Item no.: 2122233-8511

Burnside sounds like a distillery on a burn somewhere in the glens. It isn't one. The name is a cover, and underneath sits a Speyside whisky that spent its last three of fourteen years in a cask that once held Ruby Port.
Expert's Description
Burnside 14 year Ruby Port is a Speyside Blended Malt Scotch Whisky matured in a refill hogshead, finished in a 1st fill Ruby Port Hogshead cask and bottled at cask strength, 52%.
It comes from Woodrow's of Edinburgh, a bottler based in Edinburgh, and belongs to their Warehouse Reserve range in the Curators' Cut Edition. The whisky is drawn from one single cask, number 900018, filled on 27 April 2011 and bottled on 14 October 2025. Only 292 bottles exist.
Burnside is a brand name, not a distillery. Behind it sits a teaspooned Balvenie: malt from Balvenie in Dufftown with a small dash from another distillery added, so it can legally be called a Blended Malt and sold without Balvenie on the label.
The cask story is short. Around eleven years in a refill hogshead, a cask that has been used before and lets the spirit speak without a heavy hand of wood. Then three years in a 1st fill cask from Ruby Port, the young, red, fruity style of port wine. That cask still has plenty to give, and it shows in the berries and sweetness. Nothing has been coloured or chill filtered.
Tasting Notes
Nose
Heather honey first, then ripe summer berries and a hint of milk chocolate. Light and elegant.
Palate
Silky and layered. Milk chocolate, raspberries, strawberry jam and orange zest, with figs and toffee underneath. A touch of hazelnut at the end.
Finish
Medium to long. The jam lingers, and the baking spices stay sweet and quiet.
Specifications
Name: Burnside 14 year Ruby Port
Distillery: Balvenie
Bottler: Woodrow's of Edinburgh
Region/Country: Speyside, Scotland
Type: Speyside Blended Malt Scotch Whisky
Age: 14 years
ABV: 52%
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: Refill Hogshead cask, finished for 3 years in 1st fill Ruby Port Hogshead cask
Non-chill filtered: Yes
Natural colour: Yes
Bottled: 14.10.2025
Number of bottles: 292
Edition: Curators' Cut Edition
EAN no.: 5060769810611
Flavour Profile
Fruity · Port-finished · Sweet · Smooth · Lightly spiced
Did You Know?
This bottle has a twin. Cask 900019 was filled on the very same day, 27 April 2011, and got the same three years on port, only tawny instead of ruby. Both were bottled on 14 October 2025.
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113,75

1pcs.
102,50EUR
Westport 2004/2019 Wilson & Morgan 15 years old Highland Blended Malt Scotch Whisky 70 cl 59.5%

Item no.: 22278138-11

The label says Westport and Highland, and keeps quiet about the rest. What it does reveal is who chose the cask: an Italian oenologist in Treviso, who moved this whisky into a wood that once held Marsala and then bottled it at full strength, no water added.
Expert description
Westport 2004/2019 Wilson & Morgan 15 year Marsala Finish is a Highland Blended Malt Scotch Whisky finished in a Marsala cask and bottled at 59.5%.
It belongs to Wilson & Morgan's Barrel Selection series and comes from one single cask, number 900095, which filled 265 bottles. The whisky was distilled in 2004 and bottled in 2019 after fifteen years in wood, and it goes into the bottle at the cask's own strength.
Westport is a brand name rather than a distillery, and the label does not say which distillery made the spirit. Wilson & Morgan has used the name for sherry-matured releases too. What the whisky sat in during its first years is not stated; at the end it was moved into a Marsala cask.
Marsala is a fortified wine from Sicily. On the back label, Wilson & Morgan describe its influence as light-handed but obvious. The nose recalls a refill sherry cask, while the palate is dry, almost austere, with nuts and pepper leading.
Wilson & Morgan is based in Treviso, north of Venice, and has bottled Scotch whisky since 1992. Founder Fabio Rossi comes from a family of wine merchants and trained as an oenologist in Conegliano, which explains the house habit of finishing malts in sherry, port and Marsala casks. The Marsala bottlings have become something of a signature.
Tasting notes
Nose
Winey, nutty and a little sour. On the first sniff it could pass for a refill sherry cask, almost traditional.
Palate
The Marsala cask shows itself clearly but with a light touch. Biscuity and very dry, almost austere, with pepper and nuts up front before a fruity, slightly sharp attack.
Finish
Strength and spice keep building all the way out, and the finish ends warm and peppery rather than soft.
Specifications
Name: Westport 2004/2019 Wilson & Morgan 15 year Marsala Finish Highland Blended Malt Scotch Whisky 59.5%
Bottler: Wilson & Morgan
Region/Country: Highland, Scotland
Type: Highland Blended Malt Scotch Whisky
Age: 15 years
ABV: 59.5%
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: Finished in Marsala cask
Non-chill filtered: Yes
Natural colour: Yes
Distilled: 2004
Bottled: 2019
Number of bottles: 265
Edition: Barrel Selection
EAN no.: 8033749406057
Flavour profile
Dry · Nutty · Spicy · Winey · Fruity
Did you know?
Marsala owes its strength to an Englishman. When the wine merchant John Woodhouse landed in Sicily in 1773, he added local brandy so the wine would survive the voyage home.
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140,50

1pcs.
126,50EUR
Burnside 14 year old Woodrows of Edinburgh Single Cask #900019 Single Speyside Malt Whisky 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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113,75

1pcs.
102,50EUR
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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99,00

1pcs.
89,25EUR
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.
120,00

1pcs.
108,00EUR
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
134,00

1pcs.
120,50EUR
Westport 2004/2019 Wilson & Morgan 15 years old Highland Blended Malt Scotch Whisky 70 cl 57.8%

Item no.: 2227865438-1002-43

Westport is the unofficial name used for Glenmorangie when the whisky has a small amount of spirit from another distillery added, meaning it cannot be sold as a single malt. This cask shows just how much character the Italian house Wilson & Morgan can conjure.
The expert's description
Westport 2004/2019 Glenmorangie Wilson & Morgan 15 år Highland Blended Malt Scotch Whisky 57,8% is a Highland Blended Malt Scotch Whisky, matured in Sherry wood, butt #900050 and bottled at 57.8%.
The whisky was distilled in 2004 and bottled in 2019 by Wilson & Morgan from a single sherry butt, #900050, with an outturn of 539 bottles. It carries clear traces of Glenmorangie's clean, fruity, lightly spiced profile, but gains extra depth and dark nuances from the long sherry maturation.
Tasting Notes
Nose
Dried fruit, raisins, dark caramel and warm spice.
Palate
Full and oily with nuts, oak and chocolate.
Finish
Long, dark and lasting with sherry-driven tones.
Specifications
Name: Westport 2004/2019 Glenmorangie Wilson & Morgan 15 år Highland Blended Malt Scotch Whisky 57,8%
Distillery: Westport
Bottler: Wilson & Morgan
Region/Country: Highland, Scotland
Type: Highland Blended Malt Scotch Whisky
Age: 15 years
ABV: 57.8%
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: Sherry wood, butt #900050
Distilled: 2004
Bottled: 2019
Number of bottles: 539
EAN no.: 8033749406033
Flavour Profile
Sherried · Full-bodied · Spiced
Did you know?
The name Westport is typically used when a whisky from a named distillery has a small proportion from another distillery blended in, which legally prevents it from carrying the single malt label, even though the majority still comes from one place.
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140,50

1pcs.
126,50EUR

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