Hazelburn Barolo Cask Matured 9 Year Old Cask Strength Single Malt Scotch Whisky (700ml)

New for 2017 and possibly the last use of those famed Barolo casks at Springbank, this follows on from Barolo cask-matured expressions under the Longrow, Springbank and Kilkerran labels. For this release, they've filled the x Italian red wine barrels with their unpeated triple distilled whisky (first marketed as Hazelburn in 1997). After six years in fresh bourbon oak, the maturation was extended an additional three years to refill French oak Barolo (red wine) hogsheads. According to Springbank the taste is, "peppery with light tannins. The sweetness is continued alongside dried fruits, raisins and the subtle hint of coconut shavings." Though technically unpeated, we often detect a thread of smoke in Hazelburn bottlings. It's reportedly passed through the stills after the heavily peated Longrow run, so this could explain the residual effect.

Distilled in June 2007 and bottled in October 2017, 10,800 bottles have been released for Springbank fanatics worldwide allowing for a small Australian allocation.

Tasting note: Brilliant bright gold. Text book clarity. A saline edge to the nose, followed by blood orange chocolate, white pepper, hints of spiced pear and vanilla. Sedate on entry. Mid palate surges with a superb burst of cocoa-laced peat, pear tart and bitter dark chocolate. Powers on through the finish which is peppery, finely tannic. Bitter cocoa, stewed pear and trace lanolin in the fade. Huge for Hazelburn. Non chill filtered and colouring free. 57.9% Alc./Vol.