Hazelburn 12

Well, it didn’t take long to try a slightly more aged version of the Hazelburn spirit as I was at it the next day with a sample of the 12. Based on what I liked in the 12, I was guess the extra time in a cask would have me like it just a bit more. Was I right?

Hazelburn 12, Campbeltown Single Malt, 46% ABV

Minutia: Research suggested this saw Sherry casks in some capacity, though I’m unsure how many casks and what amount of time they spent there since it’s not a regular offering and isn’t on their website. Based on my knowledge of how Springbank/Glengyle (Kilkerran) does their vatting, I’d guess it’s the full maturation time with some ratio of Bourbon to Sherry. Enjoyed neat in a glencairn, rested about 10 minutes.

Color: Tawny russet muscat, 1.3.5.

Nose: Tamer form of that caramely burny taste of the 10, some kind of fruit pretending to be smoky.

Taste: Metaly, spicy fruit medley.

Finish: Salty, funky, hot, medium-long

I enjoyed every aspect of this the same or better than the 10. The fruit felt better, probably due to this seeing Sherry casks. The very subtle smokiness came through more, too, which I’m expecting if from a bit more time touching the char. This was good, but still not very memorable. I don’t think it’s the 3 distillations that I’m not entirely a fan of as I enjoy Irish whiskies, so I think it’s just the lack of peat stopping me from really appreciating this, and the fact I enjoy the lightly to heavily peated lines from Springbank suggests that to be true.

Score: 78

SMWS Name: A fruit in peat’s clothing

Hazelburn 10

I had tried some Longrow and Springbank, and even though peat is a thing I really like in whisky I wanted to give Springbank’s unpeated variety a shake.

Hazelburn 10, Campbeltown Single Malt, 46% ABV

Minutia: Matured in ex-Bourbon casks. Enjoyed neat in a glencairn.

Color: Deep copper, 1.0.

Nose: Boozy, grassy, leather.

Taste: Thick feel but light in weight, tingly, fruit, into a funk that feels smoky. Had you told me this was at least a bit peated, I’d have believed you based on this part.

Finish: Malty, spices. The smoky funk from the taste continues into the beginning of the finish, but that does not persist long at all. The malty, spicy part of the finish continues medium.

Like I expected, this was well made, good stuff that I wish had peat to appeal more to me. The smokiness was unexpected given the unpeated nature, so was a welcome surprise I really appreciated. Definitely looking to try some of the older expressions to see if some more cask influence brings that out more or less (I’m hoping more). Also, I’m curious if this is at all like the Springbank 10 (which I am working through a bottle of but haven’t yet reviewed). I initially found the Springbank 10 a bit lackluster, almost mediocre. After a short amount of time it really opened up in a way that is super appealing, and the smoky, funky quality I like from Campbeltown which I found too muted to my liking was ultra pronounced.

Score: 76

SMWS Name: Who spilled a bit of peat in the Hazelburn?