Hazelburn 8 Year Old Small Casks for Belgium

Today – despite the heat, but I’m well protected in my subbasement study – I’ll try to Campbeltowners head to head. Both are from the Springbank distillery: the 8 Year Old Small Casks for Belgium against the 12 Year Old, both official releases.

Springbank distillery created three malts : Springbank, somewhat peated with 12 to 15 ppm, the heavily peated Longrow with 50 to 55 ppm and the unpeated Hazelburn, triple distilled.

This Hazelburn 8 Year Old Small Casks for Belgium was distilled in December 2000 and bottled in April 2009 at an ABV of 49,1%. The outturn was 366 bottles.

It has a nice, almost golden color and beads wonderfully in the glass.

It has a sweet nose of white fruit, primarily conference pear. Some grassy notes to accompany the fresh barley. There is even the slighted touch of smoke.

The attack is nicely spiced, but aprt from that, nothing much happens. The nose return on the palate: zweet fruit. It’s very clean though and perfectly balanced. A very well-made whisky.

The finish is rather short.

If you can still find it, you’ll probably will pay more than the initial 60 EUR. At some auctions I’ve seen it selling for about 100 EUR. I think this is more for Springbank collectors than for whisky enthusiasts. It couldn’t really set me on fire.

76/100

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