ฝัง
- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 27 ก.ค. 2024
- I've got a single malt scotch whisky from the Springbank distillery in Campbeltown today. This is the Hazelburn 10. It's the entry-level expression from Springbank's unpeated line. I'll taste it and give you my thoughts. Cheers!
IG: @gwhiskytw
Business/Contact info: gwhiskytw@gmail.com
Scores:
0-75 - Crap
75-79 - For cocktails & people you don't like
80-82 - Not bad
83-85 - Getting good here
86-89 - Delicious
90-94 - Awesome
95-100 - Cowabunga Dudes
Music: freemusicarchive.org/music/Yu...
This review might have the best “finish maneuver” of any of your reviews….well done 👍
The short answer oh yes!. Its superb!
Thanks for another great review, Geoff! Spot on!
Love the honest reviews. Have made a list of must buys to add to my collection. Have been on the Glenfiddich to Islam peat roller coaster. Now want unique flavours that
The scoring has been very accurate and the analysis is quite rational。
Thank you. Glad you agree!
I absolutely agree, I would score it the same! Great stuff!
I was just about to pick some up...thanks for the review!
Cheers!
For me, it did blow my mind the first time I tried it. So rich and flavorsome, definitely my cup of tea :)
It's a beauty. Shame it's hard to find nowadays. 🥃
@@Gwhisky Indeed, where I live you have to participate to a lottery to buy it. Lucky me, I won 2 bottles so I have a back up :)
@@lewisbh2092 Yeah lotteries. Same here. Lucky you! 🥃
Nice review. I like this one. Goes for about $65 in my area. Springbank 10, Longrow Peated, and Hazelburn 10 are always on my shelf.
That's a very fair price!
Nice review! I’ve had this whisky before and loved it. I’m a fan of ALL Springbank products. Recently ( months ago) I opened a Hazelburn 10 and found it disappointing. There were moments when I said ‘yeah, ok there it is’ and other moments when it came across flat. My conclusion is that I had an “off” bottle. Not going to whine about that too much. I still have another Hazelburn 10 and a 13 oloroso unopened. I bought these at $65 and $104 respectively. That’s spot on for value. Recently the 10’s { hazelburn, springbank and longrow} have jumped up to $85. I will not buy a ten year old whisky at that price. I think that doing so takes the responsible AVERAGE drinker down a dangerous path. I can only hope prices are better in your area. Massachusetts, USA has seen a significant and disappointing increase in pricing. Many others, but not all have jumped up as well. Thanks for bringing this important to the forefront in your review. Much appreciated
Thanks for the comment. Yeah it seems the jump in prices and the wobbly availability aren't issues everywhere, and some markets are worse off than others. Hazelburn has gone up in price recently in Taiwan, luckily not quite as high as you.
Sorry to hear you weren't impressed with the 10. Hopefully you'll have better luck with the 13, I hear good things!
Nice review.
I haven't had any Hazelburn expression yet. Springbank products comes in very few and far between where I live. Last year I've managed to get 2 bottles of Springbank 10 before it was sold out. They were "moderately" overpiced but I don't regret buying them for I truly love this whisky.
Later in the 2020 the same online retailer put some Hazelburn 10 out but the price was on the steep side so I didn't hurry to buy. Funnily enough the bottles remained in-stock for months before sometime in the fall of 2020 the retailer put them on special sale. Unfortunately I had already blown my whisky budget on other bottles so all I could do was watching the Hazelburn 10 go from "in-stock" to "sold out"...
I think Springbank 10 is going to suit more people. But this is a cool one to try. Pretty unique, and not just as a Campbeltown whisky. That being said, if SB10 is cheaper, it's probably the better choice.
I have yet to see a hazelburn but it’s in my list to get as soon as I see one!
It starts off sweet. Then I get lots of cereal/malt with this one plus grilled pineapple and papaya. Oak spice on the finish. It's one of my favorites. I haven't had it in my market in over three years!
It blows my socks off! Definitely getting that coconut/pineapple note. Wish it didn’t cost $90 to enjoy this bottle.
Just bought a bottle of this for $83 USD. I’m thinking I overpaid by $20 but really wanted to try it against the SB 10yr. Have had a fair amount of Hazelburn as it’s had to get around here as well. Have a bottle of Hazelburn 9yr Cask Strength matured in a Barolo Cask that from the fill level of the bottle I have been getting along with quite well.
Great review - those tropical notes can be elusive at first but once you get them they’re obvious. I think the faint hint of peat in Hazelburn is due to two things. The Springbank equipment is used to make lightly and heavily peated whisky as well as this one and even though Hazelburn is run just after a full system cleaning it’s impossible to eradicate all traces of peat from the 100 year old cast-iron mashtun and the boat larch washbacks. Also, the wash still is direct heated and the Maillard reaction on the particulate matter makes a faintly smoky taste.
Yeah I suspect that's what it is. It adds a really nice subtle element to the whisky. A lot of people don't notice it, but for me it's quite obvious. And those fruits... banger!
i loved this one, but than again im quite biased as a Springbank fanboy!
Bruhhhh, it took me 3 months to get to this bottle and wow! this was delicious; so far I have it rated higher than Springbank 10 9.1 to 9.3.
I loved the buttery pineapple vanilla citrus tart taste, reminded me of a much lighter Edradour bourbon natural cask bottles.
Now I need a back up and likely move the 13 oloroso up in my list.
Yeah it's a great one. I think it spends too much time in SB10's shadow. It deserves a bit more love. Glad you like it man!
Good luck tracking down the 13. I think it should be easier to find in the states. Nowhere to be found here.
Agree. I give it a 92…it’s fantastic. I’ve had that 13, and it beats that too!
Good review! I agree that it's unique and not loud... like a silent sipper, not in your face but can hold its own with its character... Anyways, I hope you can get your hands on a Hazelburn Oloroso Cask (current version is a 13 y/o at 50.3%) and curious to hear your thoughts... I stumbled upon a bottle and glad I took a chance (even at what I personally consider a hefty price)...
Unfortunately the Oloroso 13 is impossible to track down in Taiwan. The only time I've seen it here it was being sold for a ridiculous price. Shame. I'd LOVE to try it, I hear good things. 🥃
One of my favorite 10 year bottlings. I have thankfully stockpiled a few bottles of it and rightly so, the prices, as you mentioned have been quite insane.
Yes, Hazelburn is triple distilled, but by no means a lightweight. Lovely, cleansing mouthfeel. You have captured the complexities beautifully. In addition to your points, I notice a explosion of meyer lemon and Eu De Cologne, grilled plantains, mulch, parsley, cilantro and parsley. The funk you mentioned comes off to me as fresh yoghurt mixed with some savory herbs like sage and thyme. I find it a very expressive whisky which has a very unique, singular signature.
Clearly, I seem to love this whisky a lot. But then, I am a Springbank fanboy. I do adore their whiskies. I think they epitomize quality and is unassumingly complex. It does take time to parse our the nuances but it is always worth the adventure (in my opinion). Not worth the ridiculous prices though. I bought the last few bottles for 74$ from an online retailer and I think that is worth the price.
Btw, I was just enjoying a glass of the Longrow 13 Red (matured in Chilean Cabernet Sauvignon casks) while I was listening to this review. It is an outstanding whisky and I strongly recommend it to anyone. I had bought two bottles of this when I opened my first bottle and I am glad I did. I cannot find this anywhere.
Hazelburn is a wonderful dram. I'm nervous, however, that this might be my last bottle, at least until the global Springbank buying frenzy subsides. Delicious? Absolutely. But at the end of the day it's an entry level whisky that's not worth the over-the-top price tag it's now reached in most markets.
I REALLY wish I could get my hands on those Longrow Red and/or Hazelburn sherried whiskies. We don't seem to get anything from Springbank out here outside of the standard core range offerings. It seems those special editions are sold exclusively in certain markets. Tragic, I've heard nothing but good things.
@@Gwhisky I recently looked up my usual online retailer for the Hazelburn 10. I wanted to gift a friend a bottle of that. The price listed was 165$. Yes, ridiculous. Springbank always suffers from low production volumes and completely insufficient distribution. For some reason they are completely recalcitrant to branding and promotion; which, albeit quite charming in today's capitalist frenzy, harms the whisky lovers like us.
I had one bottle of the Hazelburn 13 matured exclusively in oloroso. It was a stunner. I cannot find it anywhere now. I also had a 9 year Hazelburn, matured in Gaja Barolo casks, bottled at 54% I think. That was another excellent whisky. It is listed at 300$, yes 300$!!! On my online retailers website. It is a travesty!
@@yoursinsincerely39 I don't know if Springbank has expanded yet. If they haven't, they certainly should. It would take a decade for the rewards from such an effort to reach us consumers as it is. Springbank has been in high demand for a long time, but the supply/demand ratio has never been as out-of-control as it is now. $165 for this is utterly absurd. I really hope they do something about this asap. If things continue, normal people will no longer to be able to enjoy Springbank. It will simply become a collectible or an investment.
@@Gwhisky I had visited the distillery in 2018 and did not notice any expansion or hear about any ideas for the same. Most of those wine finishes are all limited releases. The staff there insists that you cannot mass produce them and maintain the same quality. It makes sense but is also unfortunate. They should at least expand their core range. The problem also arises because they consistently produce all the 3 products using the same stills. They are resolutely old fashioned and from the stills, to worm tubs and dunnage warehouses, they do not vaccilate from their philosophy.
Having said that Springbank is more than just a distillery. Their philosophy is truly unique. It is about local sustainability. They remain the only distillery to accomplish every single step in their whisky production on site, thereby generating jobs for the entire local community. I did not see much of an effort to make their brand known, expand or promote their excellent products. As unfortunate as it might be, their focus is not on the world market.
What you just said, is already happening, a lot of their bottles are already collectibles. They are so rare to find and with such a hefty price tag. Springbank along with its frustrating idiosyncrasies continue to enthrall and frustrate us. Maybe it is for the best? Now that is becoming too deep for a Monday morning.
@@yoursinsincerely39 Isn’t it possible to increase production without sacrificing quality by adding stills and following the same production process to output more volume by expanding the labor pool? Unless that wld undermine their sustainability model, it could expand their positive impact on the local economy while also help prevent the price gauging due to demand too far exceeding supply.
Glad you liked it! Mind, you kept us hanging on. I thought it was going to be thumbs down until you warmed to it. Having had a couple of bottles, I'd say your description and evaluation are spot on. Price has been OK (so far) in the UK, at
Yeah it seems some markets are doing fine and others not so much. This now costs 130% of its price just a year ago in Taiwan. Hopefully this situation is temporary. In the meantime it's very frustrating. I'd love to pick up a Springbank 10 but hate to be overcharged for it.
I actually really appreciate the “gentle moments” we get here. Hazelburn showcases how much variety a single distillery can produce.
@@Gwhisky I think over here at least covid has increased demand while disrupting supply. Prior to that you could even pick up Springbank batch releases at offer price from mainstream outlets for some time after release, now they vanish instantly. And the likes of Haz 10 and Longrow NAS really ought to be stablemates of say, Glencadam 10, appreciated for what they truly are, as in your review, not as hyped up superbrands.
I realise that it’s hard to compare prices across the world, but I’d be interested to know what you see as medium, and what you think is high in price….. most good whiskies would be seen as overpriced where I live, which makes it hard to gauge when it comes to relative value.
@@howardbecdove9780 with currency conversion, I suppose my general rule would be USD $55 or less as affordable, $55-$72 as mid-range, and anything over that as expensive. Of course, that's Taiwan prices, and almost everything I buy here is under USD $100. Now this market has some of the cheapest scotch whisky prices in the world, so those prices don't apply to most markets. That's why I just say that the whisky is affordable, mid range or expensive.
@@Gwhisky Thanks for your reply.
Even knowing that, gives me some idea of your perceived value.
Things are off the scale in Australia, but there are some anomalies. That particular bottle is Au$130 (US $95). That price range seems to apply to at least half of the whiskies you’ve reviewed lately. I’ve been using Deanston 12 yo as my “Big Mac index”. For some reason, at AU $72 - AU $90, it’s sold at a similar price level with whiskies that I’d consider to be bottom shelf.
currently hving 8yo and 12yo on my shelf, 8yo is really similar with 10yo, 12yo is more rounder and kind of leaning toward to kilkerran.
Hazelburn 10 is many of the things I love about gin and many of the things I love about scotch. It's not for everyone, but it's too unique and weird for me not to enjoy.
I’m one who thinks this stuff is fantastic and unique. It’s a citrus bomb. Lots of lemon oil and some grapefruit. But it’s definitely polarizing. Two friends who have pretty similar tastes to mine otherwise, do NOT like this stuff.
Like you I have a friend who likes it far less than me. Enough people seem to like it for it to be sold out everywhere nowadays, though. Cheers!
Having the last dram of my bottle.... sometimes I find it hard to believe it's really totally unpeated .. just the " funk" I guess
Is Springbank 10 better than this one? Heading to buy either one of those tomorrow but its hard to decide. Also I’m not a fan of smoke stuff like Lagavulin, hopefully those are not smoky like that.
Hi Khoa. If I had to choose between this and SB10, I'd go for the Springbank. But this is a close 2nd. They are smokey, but not nearly as powerful as stuff like Lagavulin or most other Islay whiskies. Hope that helps!
@@Gwhisky Thank you sir!
Totally agreed No peaty smoke for me too!!!😝
Either it's out of stock or the price has gone too high here in Taiwan . Luckily, we can still get Kilkerran 12 instead.
Not to mention Glen Scotia!
Not sure if you mentioned it, but what is the bottle code/date on yours? I have a couple from 2017. Considering cracking one this week.
Mine's from 2019. That being said, the quality has been very consistent with Hazelburn in my experience. I'm sure your 2017 bottles are fantastic.
@@Gwhisky thanks for the reply. Looking forward to trying mine!
Have you tried The 13yo and 14yo Olorosso Cask? Great stuff🥂
I haven't, but I'd love to! It's extremely hard to find and quite expensive here. Shame. Sounds like a banger!
@@Gwhisky 4 releases of hb sherry wood are really outstanding, the sherry cask they used are really clean.
@@alfocrown I'm sure it's great. I'd grab it if I could!
I found a store 28 miles away that has 3 of these left for $78. Pre pandemic there were a little more available and I believe they were $60 USD. Man don’t know what you got till it’s gone.
I've heard that this has reached$160 in some parts of the states. Madness.
You should do an Indian whisky review ;)
Have you heard of the kamet Indian single malt?
I've only ever reviewed an Amrut. I will eventually do more Indian stuff. I've heard of Kamet, but I don't believe it's available yet in my market...
I agree. I have Amrut Fusion, Amrut Peated cask strength, and Paul John Brilliance. They all give off some really unique / funky tropical notes not found in almost any scotch single malts. I do however notice some hints of tropical Indian single malt character in Springbank 10...
It's $80 where I live. Would you pay this price? Deanston 12 yo is around $59 here.
Tough call. That might be a bit high. This is a lighter style of SB, so it may not please everyone. But if my description sounds like something you'd enjoy, then absolutely try it out!
It sold out so quickly the retailer raised the price to $100. I guess I'll wait a while to see if the price drops a bit.
Cut myself off. Read Islay not Islam (dam spell check) Canuck living in Australia. Keep up the excellent reviews.
Thanks Tony! Cheers from a Canuck in Taiwan.
...and I hope you find peace with your new religion! 😂
Is it smooth?
Yeah I'd say so.
It's $100 if you can find it in NYC, and that's way too much; maybe double what I'd be comfortable paying.
Damn. Yeah hard pass for $100.
Yeah, it’s $150 in my area
While I love springbank($90) and Longrow(NAS $85) I won’t be getting this for that price
I've heard it's up to $160 in parts of the States. Absurd. Good whisky, not worth anywhere near that, though.
@@Gwhisky I just had a super lucky event happen to me. I stumbled onto two dusty bottles of this with 2019 stamps on the bottle marked down to an embarrassing low amount in an obscure location of an obscure store. So of course I snatched them up being that this is one of my favorites of all time. I'll probably never have an opportunity to buy them again since it has become unobtainium in price and availability in the Northeast US. Count me among those that think this is just about as good as Scotch whiskey can get for an unpeated style. I prefer it over it's sister Springbank 10. Simply outstanding.
@EuropaWill Awesome find! 🥃
Sprinbank 10 has more flavours, so what is the point to pay equal money for this one;) ?
Variety.
There ‘s hard rock, and the there’s classical...depends on the mood
Different experience. To me Hazelburn is more oily and more tropical compared to Springbank 10. Both are worth a purchase
This has to be a piss take . 😂😂😂😂