Burnside 2011 11 Year Old, Finn Thomson Cask #900016

This single cask release is inspired by one of his favourite ever whiskies – Balvenie’s ‘Caribbean Cask’. It was one of the first single malts to grab his attention; the tropical fruit notes from the rum casks set it apart from many other whiskies at the time.

When he was fortunate to come across this cask of Burnside it gave him the idea to create his own version of a rum-cask-finished whisky, using a very similar spirit style.

Instead of Jamaican rum casks, he has worked with a local Scottish rum producer at Burn O Bennie Distillery who produce the fantastic ‘Devil’s Point Rum’ in Banchory, Aberdeenshire. It is made in a classic Jamaican dunder style and matured in ex Oloroso sherry casks.

The combination results in a vibrant whisky with demerara sugar notes alongside caramelized pineapple and mango. It is an independent bottler’s take on one of my all time favourite whiskies and I hope it does it justice.

Distilled: 17/04/2011
Bottled: 01/11/2022
ABV: 63.6%
One of only 180 bottles produced from a single cask.
Cask: Scottish Rum Finish
Although this is not written as a single malt, this is produced using highly regarded single malt from William Grants & Sons