Volume: 700ml          ABV: 47.1%          Age: 13 Years Old          Country: Scotland

This Hazelburn was triple distilled in October 2003 and spent 13 years maturing in fresh and refill Oloroso Sherry Casks till bottled in March 2017. Only 12,000 were produced worldwide with no news of ever being re-released. Grab one before you regret not doing so.

Malt Review Tasting Notes

Nose: a classically dirty Campbeltown nose – that coal smoke and diesel fumes, mingled with a maltiness and a sweetness. It’s then smashed down by a wonderfully intensity of red fruits and blackcurrants, with prunes to follow. That dies back and a pungent biscuity notes, Malted Milks or Digestives. A rare occasion where it’s fresher and more enticing when just poured: time allows the freshness to fade, and it just takes the fun out of things.

Palate: velvety, if a little thin on the texture. Certainly not as oily as its sister brands, yet pleasant enough. Heavy on the charcoal, with blackened meats – and honey glaze. Indeed, an underlying meatiness here, drifting into gamey, grouse territory. Blackcurrants and elderberry or even Balsamic tartness to this, which actually works with that meatiness. Blackcurrant juice then begins to dominate. Rather creamy, with just enough bitterness from the wood to balance out. Ever-so-slight metallic tinge. Caramel notes, and eventually those dried fruits one would expect.

Conclusion: Opening day of the shooting season: gamey, smokey. Just a lovely whisky. Typical of some of the whiskies being released from Springbank of late, and that is something to be celebrated, as it’s very much my cup of tea. I can have no shortage of this style of whisky in my cupboard.

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