Hazelburn 10 Year

Honey, pear, malty, something savory, enough complexity to keep it interesting. I don't have Arran 10 on hand, but it reminds me more of the Arran than Springbank. Really enjoyable dram. Could definitely see picking this one up at the right price, although it looks like the Arran is quite a bit more economical around here. Thank you @ctbeck11 for the sample. Seems like your box keeps delivering winners for me.

Delicato, profumi insoliti di frutta e fiori anche al gusto stupisce per il bouquet aromatico. Alcol sentito pochissimo

Nose: fresh seawater, light sweet fruit, vanille, hint of Smoke Taste: sweetish, tropical fruit, light Smoke Finish: medium length, sweetness & pleasant slight burn on tongue-tip

Vanilla nose. Lime peel and creamy vanilla. Apricot. Mouth coating. Easy drinking dram.

Nose - lemon, apple, charred orange peel, honey, cereal grain, yeast, vanilla, dry herbal notes, caramel, mild to moderate ethanol burn. Taste - lemon oil, apple, light peat, pineapple, cereal grain, vanilla cream, orange, ginger, flint, walnut, sour oak, bitter herbal notes, moderate alcohol bite, finishing medium length with citrus oil, flint, and bitter herbal flavors. My Springbank review series kicks off with the Hazelburn 10 Year. While Springbank and, to a lesser degree, Longrow seem to hold the perennial spotlight, this unpeated entry level expression deserves some love too! The nose is subtle and mercurial. Aromas appear and recede more quickly than I’m able to identify them. There’s a definite citrus component, likely lemon and orange. They’re not fresh and juicy though. It’s almost as if lemon and orange peels were left out to rot for a few days before being singed with a propane torch. There’s an elusive flinty, bready, fusel quality along with some honey, orchard fruit, and grain aromas. The palate is decidedly less subtle, but I’d categorize it as relatively light. More citrus notes appear, but here they’re pithier and more bitter. I’m also detecting a tropical fruit quality. We’ll call it pineapple. There’s youthful graininess and a hint of peat. The mouthfeel is oily and the finish is well-appointed. This is good whiskey. There’s richness and depth that I don’t often find outside of Campbeltown. While the youth and graininess hold this back from greatness, this is deserving of a spot on my shelf. Unfortunately prices are rising, and at $80 near me, I wouldn’t call this a value anymore.