
August 5, 2016

Little duets, today Hazelburn

They’re very discreet, and yet they make a brilliant malt. Actually, I’m not sure they distilled enough Hazelburn in the past to keep us happy (and quiet). Mind you, it’s triple distilled, so they need to do much more work.

Hazelburn 10 yo (46%, OB, +/-2014)

Not quite the latest batches, I’m late once again, but remember we have only one taster at WF, and that that taster’s only got one liver. Colour: white wine. Nose: if their aim was to make a much lighter Springbank, I’m happy to report that they failed miserably. Granted, this is lighter than Springbank (and than Longrow, a fortiori), but it’s still got his magnificent fatty and mineral profile that’s so amazing to us lovers of the ‘old Highlands’ style. Sunflower oil, paraffin, tinned pineapples and oranges, perhaps roses and perhaps litchis. So it is theoretically lighter, but it’s no light whisky. Mouth: well, I believe they could distil it seventeen times, it would still be some fat and ‘wide’ spirit. Exceptional palate, as waxy and lemony as waxed lemons. Plus clay, olive oil, drops of seawater, and a gingery earthiness that’s just perfect. Finish: long, waxy, mineral, perfectly bitter. Comments: love these total failures. A lighter Springbank, mwahahaha… (insert long cavernous echoes here)… Oh and I think it beats the Rundlets and Something 10 yo that came out at the same time fair and square. And the price is insane (£36 or something). Go buy bottles (S., please!) SGP:452 - 90 points.

Now, is the next one an official or an independent bottling?

Hazelburn 13 yo 2001/2015 (50.8%, Cadenhead, Authentic Collection, bourbon hogshead, 288 bottles)

Yeah, independent or official? Beginner special; the owners of Springbank that make Hazelburn also own Cadenhead. Colour: white wine, all great. Nose: very similar, which isn’t a surprise, but I find it rather more timid, shy, closed… Ah? With water: raw wool, washing powder, chalk, grass… As unsexy as malt whisky can be. Much better than pornographic malts, for sure. Mouth (neat): it’s to be wondered if ‘someone’ didn’t build some kind of gigantic pipe that goes from Clynelish to Springbank. A pipe that goes both ways. Now I wouldn’t say this is totally perfect, I love the zesty lemons, I’m a little less fond of the (very relative) paraffiny/soapy notes. Love the medicinal part, though. Antiseptics. With water: same, more or less, water doesn’t change much. Finish: long, much earthier, gentiany, rooty… All that, I cherish. Comments: this is very difficult. It’s great whisky (a lighter Springbank, really, that’s the best of the decade) but the official 10 was so totally perfect that, well it kind of got the death seat. Now if you would excuse me, I need to down that little 10 yo… SGP:452 - 85 points.

Check the index of all Hazelburn I've tasted so far