Burnt Ends Blended Whiskey

Burnt Ends Blended Whiskey, NAS, 45%

Here is a whisky that aims to be “the spirit if the grill”. Probably a whiskey I should have been aware of before the grill season ended (it has most definitely ended here in icy Norway).

This is an odd one in that it combined American rye whiskey from Tennessee and sherry cask finished peated single malt Scotch whisky. This is but one of four different variants; the other products in the series being a supercharged version, a 10 YO and a 24 YO! Maverick Drinks and Atom Brands are behind this little venture. There is litle detail to be found as to where the components are sourced, but from what I gather there is a high probability that the Scotch single malt component is Caol Ila.

The Burnt Ends Blended Whiskey is available in Norway at NOK 487 (16910001).

Nose: There's a definite barbecue vibe here — meaty with top notes of tropical fruits. Over time, apples and pears emerge, while the peppery rye melds beautifully with the peaty undertones.

Taste: Medium-bodied, dryish with bold wood smoke, driftwood, and white pepper upfront. Then a second wave brings juicy orchard fruits, a hint of nuttiness, and caramel, balancing the smokiness.

Finish: Medium-long, with more pronounced peat and an increase in pepper and spice. Dry with a chocolatey undertone as it lingers.

Comment: A smoky, spicy dram.

Score 84/100

PS! Just a brief note on the score you might fined on the site whiskybase.com. Now, I’ve been a happy user of whiskybase for about 15 years or so. I love the abundance of info to be found on this site. The score given by some users though (and the sales prices people list for their whiskies) does from time to time go well into the world of complete bonkers! This whisky is a great example; only 13 reviews and amongst those you will find users scoring this whiskey 15 and 40 points out of a 100 respectively. I mean, especially the 15, are you taking the piss, mate?! For real?! This is not a whiskey that will revolutionize the industry, sure, but it is also not even close to being on level to bad (is there such a thing) paint stripper or chemicals to unclog your pipes. Make up your own minds, people! My reviews and scores are also simply one persons highly subjective views. Never mind the bollocks!

Sláinte!
-Thomas