Hazelburn 12 Year Oloroso Cask Matured

Springbank Whisky Tasting, The Oak Barrel, Sydney, April 17, 2024, Whisky #3 Bottle code 17/11/22 – 22/2320 Nose: Lemon zest, damp earth, autumn leaves, leather, brine, petrichor, senega, tobacco, medium sherry. Adding water initially has minimal effect on the nose, but after dilution and some resting time, a hint of maple syrup and caramel emerges. Palate: A powerful arrival with oily decaying fruit, barnyard earthiness and manure, salt-cured meat, mineral oil, and olive brine. A touch of mint or menthol appears later, along with salted nuts and tobacco. Despite its bold character, the palate is also crisp and clean. The texture is oily and persistent. Finish: Medium. Dusty leaves on old dirt paths in summer. Dried figs, lanolin, and old fruity malt extract. This is a fine whisky that highlights the uncompromising barnyard character of this malt. While Hazelburn distillate is typically aged in ex-bourbon casks, sherry casks impart greater depth and an interesting medium-dry fruit quality to the whisky. This whisky truly benefits from water. If you've only tasted Hazelburn neat and are hesitant to add water, consider making an exception and adding a full teaspoon. It transforms the texture from oily to vibrantly creamy and, most importantly, integrates all the distinctive (and potentially off-putting) barnyard characteristics into a complex, complete whole that surpasses the sum of its parts. There have been several of these oloroso cask Hazelburn expressions, and they are consistently delightful. “Excellent”: 88/100 (4.5 stars)

Nose: Honeydew Melon, Campbeltown funk, brown sugar, syrup, sweet cinnamon, fresh bread, black cherry, raisin. Palate: Leather, Cinnamon, macerated fruit, dates, sherry oak tannins, cranberry, umami finish, tobacco aftertaste. A fantastic tasting whisky; Hazelburn appears to consistently offer an incredibly complex nose, though the palate itself isn't quite as detailed. This bottling balances dry and tannic notes with some of the sweeter dark fruit notes found in other Springbank offerings, such as the Springbank 15. Where Springbank 15 can be overly tannic, the Hazelburn 12 seems to hit the sweet spot for a sweet/dry whisky, featuring plenty of sweet notes upfront with drier sherry cask tannins influencing the finish. I would have rated it higher, but the price where I am is exorbitant.

Sometimes you just want to be pleased. You don't need to analyze 200 flavors. You don't want to spend hours on it. You just want it to be perfect. This is that whisky. Smell - Sweet, distinctive sherry malt. Taste - Oily, thick, and rich. Fruity, yet sharp and slightly acidic. Finishing with a wave of flavor and intensity that competes with most peated 60% bombs. I could, and I will, go into more detail in a video review, but that's just excessive information. The truth is, this simply works. It's remarkably bold for 49.9%. It has a finish that no 12-year whisky should possess. It's simply perfect. And perfect...that's a 4-star review. 4.25 because it's just that good. This won't revolutionize your life, so let's not aim for 5 stars.

For those who appreciate sherry-finished whisky, this is a sherry delight. So rich, full-bodied. The only drawback is the cost. I found mine at a good price; I had the opportunity to get the 15-year, but it was almost $200 USD more. So I opted for the 12.

Nose: dehydrated fruit, dark soda, fruity chews, citrus preserve Palate: dark soda, woody spice, latex

Oak and sherry finish complements a pleasant golden color. Thanks to for this taste!