By Randall H. Borkus
Rating: B
(Credit: Randall H. Borkus)
Hazelburn Distillery was a prominent Campbeltown whisky producer in Scotland which was once known as the largest distillery in the Campbeltown region. It operated from 1825 until its closure in 1925 and was demolished in 1926. It was truly a casualty of the broader decline in the Campbeltown whisky, partly due to overproduction and the impact of American Prohibition.
Though the original distillery is gone, Hazelburn lives on as a triple-distilled, unpeated single malt produced by Springbank Distillery in Campbeltown. It represents the lightest style among Springbank’s three whisky lines (Hazelburn, Springbank and Longrow).
The Hazelburn 8 Year Old Oloroso Cask is an annually released single malt Scotch from Springbank Distillery. This Hazelburn 8 Year Old specifically refers to the 2017 vintage, which was distilled February 2017 and fully matured in Oloroso sherry casks for eight years, and then bottled in March 2025. Hazelburn is known for being triple-distilled and unpeated which gives us a raw look behind the flavor curtain at Springbank.
I tend to be a big fan of heavily-sherried Hazelburn expressions, so I am really looking forward to this limited edition single malt. This expression is bottled at 48.2%, ABV and they only filled 10,500 700ml bottles.
The Scotch
The color is dark-copper-amber glowing in my glass. The legs are syrupy and clingy in my glass begging for a dance.
The nose is significant and alluring with hints of baked sweet berries, leather, and sherried-oak barrel notes that sing with traces of extra dry dates, raspberry preserves and parched nuts. The mouth feel is warm, juicy and dry with dark fruit sweetness. The front and mid palates are juicy with spicy oak influences, a briny overtone, candied citrus essence, and a faint hint of dark dried fruits. The finish is long, and full of cooked berries, moist oak, salty citrus spice and a faint hint of dark tannins.
A little water opens this scotch up with an intense sweetness encompassed in a salty dryness. I am really enjoying this whisky. It is not a sherry bomb, yet it screams of dark dried berries and a briny sea aridness.
This is a solid whisky, fun to sip with friends who appreciate sherried scotches and surely deserves a second and third pour tonight!
The Price
I found it on the shelf for $149.99 plus tax at Total Wine in Minneapolis which is a fair price for a sold scotch whisky in today’s market.
