Hazelburn 8yo (55.9%, OB, Sauternes Wood, 9180 bts, D’ 06/08 B’ 02/11)

A young Hazelburn (distilled at Springbank Distillery). Hazelburn is Springbanks 3 x distilled unpeated whisky and this has spent the fist 5 years in refill bourbon cask and 3 years in Sauternes casks. Happily the math works. On the nose there is an initial sweet and sour and then (pow!) some really rich raisiny richness followed by the characteristic Springbank ‘wet cotton’. All in all it’s very rich and luxurious however the Springbank character is still quite evident. The taste is dry with lots of wood notes and some hints of leather and tobacco and then after a moment or two the rich raisin is very much in evidence and the dryness is quite enchanting since it is not overly oaked but just nicely dry. A bit of a departure from the nose but still quite excellent. The finish is warming with the sweet and sour as mentioned on the nose and it’s very long and good. Perhaps a bit closer to the taste than the nose but no matter since it’s very “moreish” and after a moment or two some really excellent malt comes bashing through.

Really quite excellent.

$84 or £49.99 from the Whisky Barrel

Score 89 points