Hazelburn 9 Year Barolo Cask Matured

I’m finally getting around to trying and reviewing my first Hazelburn. This is the 9 year old that was fully matured in ex-Barolo Wine casks. For those not “in the know”, Hazelburn is actually just another name used by Springbank, along with Longrow, and is basically their completely unpeated line of whiskies. Ten percent of their capacity is used for Longrow heavily peated malts, 10% for Hazelburn and the rest for Springbank. This whisky is pale gold in color and oily with lots of undefined legs. It was bottled at 57.9% ABV and runs about $115 a bottle, if you can find it. The nose was somewhat weak IMO: mixed nuts, powdered sugar and some light oak were the main flavors I detected, along with a lingering note of alcohol due to the higher ABV. I didn’t get many floral properties like most Springbank. The palate was very hot with a predominant note of sawdust and freshly cut oak. Sunbeam raisins, almonds and a little grape-y sweetness mingle in if you can stand the heat on your tongue long enough. There’s a syrupy sugar flavor left behind as well. The finish is long and hot with some final vanilla notes from the cask working their way through the heat. It ultimately finished very salty and dry and left me wondering where the true wine barrel notes are? It’s definitely too hot to drink neat- I learned that too late, but I don’t like to water my drams down anyway. This is how Hazelburn presented it, this is how I’ll drink it. That said, it’s a hot mess. When you advertise a particular wine cask maturation/finish I expect to taste it and I just couldn’t get through the heat. For that reason, this is a 2.5-3 star dram at best. Thanks to my friend @Telex for supplying me with this one. Cheers.

Long story but this was bought for the purpose of buying bourbon...I'd had it, I wasn't that impressed. nose - so it's light and well interesting. Oak, vanilla, perhaps a cashew, pears, and some barn elements. taste - Now I'm getting some springbank, just this savory unami thing they do so well. Water is a MUST. Water really brings out that sweet wine and really just opens up the flavors. The end result is a fruity sweet, hazelburn that's young, spirited, and not really one that I'll go back to often. The lack of peat on these or whatever really takes away a lot of what makes springbank springbank. These wine casks just leave an almost coyingly sweet dram with just enough savory to make it a fun experience. I'm enjoying it and I'll likely enjoy this whole bottle, it might be my "no regret" springbank to drink when I want CS and the 10 just won't do. Anyway, these are STILL available in places, 10,800 bottles were made. It's a bit over 100 bucks and frankly, it's very good but not great whisky. I think they rushed these and should have left them in the bourbon casks another 3 or so years. I mean really a 9 year? I'm leaning towards a 2.5. It's above average whisky, springbank doesn't do average. But it's below their average by a lot.

57.9% Nose - Sweet ripe apples, plump golden raisins, floral honey, caramel, apple spice hard candies (w/ water) Adds a hint of sweet buttercream cake frosting & crushed smarties Taste - Sweet honey, candy apple coating, bright sugar candy sweetness, light fruity metallic "funk", light grass, lemon zest, golden raisins (w/ water) Honey, green apples, hint of papaya sweet "funk", lemon zest, golden raisins Finish - Lingering heat, bright fruity sweet, candy coating sweet, honey, light fruit "funk" (w/ water) Same Score - 87/100 Final Thoughts - So I had to read on what Barolo was and turns out it's an Italian red wine, but you wouldn't guess that from the color of this one as it's fairly light in color and actually in overall experience too. I get an overall bright, refreshing, light fleshed fruit vibe from this one from start to finish. There's a light fruity "funk" that I get from this that makes it interesting, but not too distracting. Kind of funny how I identify it as a papaya funk in that I'm not a huge fan of ripe papaya, but it somehow works here. Would I drink it if offered? - Yes Would I specifically order it? - Maybe Would I buy a bottle? - Maybe NOTE - All reviews are done without factoring in price.

Nose - Bit hot, peaches, watery honey, apples (w/ water) Adds a bit of buttercream cake frosting (sorta like a buttery/sugary peaches & cream), sidewalk chalk? Taste - Bit hot initially, golden raisins, light metallic vibe, lemon zest (w/ water) Reduces initial heat, golden raisins, dried light colored fruit cubes, candied citrus zest Finish - Lingering heat, citrus pith, metallic sweet (w/ water) Heat is a bit sharper initially and not as much metallic sweet, but otherwise the same Score - 86/100 Final Thoughts - I think this one suffered a bit from the heat as it seemed to open up a bit more with water and the off putting notes mostly went away. The dominating notes were really golden raisins and dried light fleshed fruits (w/ the exception of this metallic dried papaya "funk" I sorta got). It's interesting and tasty enough, but not sure this would be something I'd ever regularly reach for. Would I drink it if offered? - Yes Would I specifically order it? - Maybe Would I buy a bottle? - No NOTE - All reviews are done without factoring in price.

I'll echo @Soba45 on the needed water, sorry @LeeEvolved. (He's going to give me @#$% now, I know, for sure). Anyway, this is a 57.9% ABV, so it can hold a few drops, trust me. Neat at first though, always, I went for the nose and got a nice bit of pear, vanilla, straw/hay, woody oak, faint cinnamon, and some nice leather. Of course, it's still a Springbank type after all. Next, on the palate, the barolo cask comes through (north italian wine), and I can see why it's adored. It really goes well with the oak/vanilla, minty cream, and brings out even more spice. The finish is medium length, with a medium mouth coat. The song for this dram is "Maridem" by Paroplapi. 3.75!

Love the fruit and sherry nose. Initial mouthfeel is pleasant. But the heat builds quickly and alchohol overpowers taste and finish. Really struggled with this as it is both fruity and complex but oh so rough when compared to the comparable fruit and complexity of Longrow 18 which I adore. Tried diluting but the heat kept ruining the taste and finish. Perhaps an older expression would fare better. Will definitly keep on radar and try different expressions if the chance presents itself.