Hazelburn 15 Year Oloroso Cask Matured

Fantastic pour with loads of sherry flavors backed by the salty and funky campbeltown character. Nose: Dark Chocolate, Raisins, Morello Cherries, Chili Peppers, Raspberries, White Chocolate, Pineapples Palate: Raisins, Tobacco, Leather, Raspberries, Cloves, Dark Chocolate, Chili Peppers, Salted Honey, Butterscotch Finish: Raisins, Dark Chocolate, Mackerels, Raspberries, Salted Caramel, Ginger, Cinnamon, Licorice, Cloves

On the nose gardenias, rose water-infused cream puff, brine soak, fresh sticky white rice, hickory wood smoke, then whiffs of sweet maple syrup and Coke. On the palate viscous cream, light brown sugar, dark meat kebabs on the grill at the back of the mouth, sharp clove spice on a high burn finish. Nice interesting composition that’s not overly complex, afterburn is pretty strong.

The nose starts with a mix of dark chocolate covered pretzels, cherries jubilee and leather bound books then figgy pudding, freshly lit pipe tobacco and seaside rocky minerality followed by grilled peaches, poached pears and musty grapes that transitions to hay, mild baking spices and polished mahogany with medium ethanol burn. The taste is a medium to full mouthfeel starting with creamy orchard fruits and light florals before a mild spice that quickly fades to dark chocolate mocha, cherries jubilee and leather bound books then baked figs, freshly lit pipe tobacco and seaside rocky minerality followed by raspberries, pear tart and musty grapes that transitions to hay, mild baking spices and polished mahogany with medium ethanol burn. The finish is long, starting with sweet orchard fruits that quickly fades to mild black pepper, dark chocolate covered raisins, freshly lit pipe tobacco, seaside rocky minerality, leather bound books and polished mahogany. This is an outstanding sherry bomb that the rich sherry elements are front and center with dark chocolate and red berries that works incredibly well in balance with the Hazelburn spirit creating a fantastic dram that keeps pulling me back after each sip wanting to explore this one further. Anything Springbank seems to be at an outrageous price nowadays, but I managed to find this at a price that I found justifiable. It’s a wonderful whisky that I’m going to share with friends, but if you can’t find it at a reasonable price, I’d just let these sit on the shelf until the liquor store drastically drops the price which is how I managed to get this one and just pick up another option while you wait.

Dark chocolate, bordering on baking cocoa. Earthy and dirthy. Rich. Very long finish with more of the same.

I figured instead of a review that'll sound like every other review of a first fill sherry bomb, I'd compare the 14 year, the 2020 13 year, and this new 15 year. Why not? OK so a bit of house keeping, the 13 year has had at least 4 different expressions with the most distinctly different being one I didn't get and being all refilled sherry. There are however at least 1 or 2 that use a mix of refill and first fill casks. Here we are using the 2020 which is 100% as springbank calls it "Fresh sherry" or a wet cask. 2017 was refilled and first fill, the 2018 I do not own to check, the 2021 was the all refill and 2019 was the 14 year. Just for the history since 2017 when I became aware, their could be older expressions, but I think that his the complete history. Next up is the abv. For this comp we have the 13 year at 50.3, 14 at 49.3 and the 15 at a higher 54.2. That is not a small increase and it comes with more age! Nose - all 3 expressions bring their own slightly nuanced spin on a rich first fill sherry cask. The 13 year gives off gummy candies and light milk chocolate with a noticeable hint of sulfur. The 14 by contrast is much more staunch with rich oak notes dominating. Still sweet it favors chocolate vs fruits and leathers vs milk chocolate. The 15 finds itself less oaky than the 14 and much more chocolaty than either. It may also be offering up the biggest dose of sherry sulfur. Oddly when not doing these side by side, I wouldn't even think sulfur. Overall, the 15 might be the most inviting as it also seems to give off a nice vanilla bean note, you'll never hear me say this reviewing it by itself. The profile on those is old world sherry, funky oak, light sulfur, and juicy fruit forward sherry that I absolutely adore. With leather notes that would remind me of much older expressions. Taste - Surprisingly they all really do take on their own unique path. The 13 year is this fruity, chewy, lovely red fruit bomb with some sour fruits coming through and giving off this oak and sour note that I rather dig. The 14 is stately as the state with huge oak giving way to book shelves and rich leather with big spices and this overall lovely sweet body. The 15 is however the really unique and different one here. Soft up front giving way to funky and youthful sherry and malt. A bit of funk almost uncooked stewed fruits, with this HUGE bold and powerful finish. The longest finish of the group. A second pull and I get leather and nuts. I've said this before but as I sip this down I get more and more reminders of perhaps even a glendronach 18 year old. I'm sure side by side would leave me laughing at that note as they have huge differences. Overall, 3 very different expressions of a similar whisky when had side by side. When had weeks apart, you'll think they are all pretty similar. Winner in all this? I hate to say it but me! OK but seriously, I think I do like the 15 the best. I like that oak note on the 14 on the finish better. I like the upfront sweetness on the 13 best. But as a full experience, I think the 15 is the one I most enjoy. I could write on for another hour here about the differences but I think this covers it well enough. Final thoughts - I was thinking I might give the 15 a 91 originally, having had the 3 together, I think that was a bit of exuberance on my excitement to even get this bottle. I love this series and I had all but given up hope of landing it this year. Thankfully, that issue was resolved as I found them on the shelf. The new price of 170 for a 15 year, even at a good proof is a bit stiff, but I think the value is there, all be it not the value that it was when these were 130 not so long ago. 4.25 stars, same as the 2020 13 year. Lovely stuff. But if you miss out, I think you've just missed out on a great sherry bomb. Not an epic all time whisky.