Hazelburn 13yo Oloroso (2020)

Whisky: Hazelburn 13yo Oloroso (2020)

Region: Campbeltown

ABV: 50.3%

Price: £57

Hazelburn is one of three spirits produced at Springbank distillery. It’s unpeated and triple distilled.

Nose

Brine and seawater gives way to typical notes of oloroso. Maldon sea salt flakes, zesty lime notes, milk chocolate. Cask and spirit seem very well integrated.

Palate

Cakieness, bitter black tea leaves, demererra sugar, cherry and blackberry casis. Alcohol is nicely balanced, it’s not overwhelming but gives a nice warming tingle on the finish.

Nose (with water)

Sherbet powder, tropical fruits, dunnage warehouse funk, sandy beach.

Palate (with water)

Nesquik chocolate milk, double cream, salted caramel, custard cream biscuits.

Conclusion

A very well balanced Campbeltown dram, but this Hazelburn lacks the complexity of some Springbanks that we’ve tried. It’s a very good whisky, well made, but not super exciting.

Score: 7/10

• 10 - Perfection. A whisky that we’ll remember forever.
• 9 - Amazing. We’d pay through the nose for a bottle.
• 8 - Great. Pick this up at RRP.
• 7 - Good. Happy to have a dram or two but wouldn’t buy a bottle.
• 6 - Passable. Would accept a dram, but wouldn’t seek it out.
• 5 - Poor. Would drink if it was the only option.
• 4 - Bad. Maybe it can be saved by ginger beer?
• 3 - Awful. It can't be saved by ginger beer.
• 2 - Pour it out
• 1 - We’ve never tried a whisky rated this low and hopefully never will.

Have you tried Hazelburn 13yo Oloroso (2020)? Let us know what you think in the comments section below.

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