"Unexpectedly sweet and wine-driven, a good cask, but not much character from this beautiful distillery"
(Photo from Whiskybase)
This special edition from the unpeated spirit from Springbank Distillery was matured for 6 years in bourbon casks after which it spent another 3 years in Barolo casks, a well respected Italian red wine produced from the Nebbiolo grape in the Piedmont region. Barolo is characterised as a dry wine, and apparently often notes of tar and roses can be recognised. The appearance is a strange one. Classic meets bling-bling. Somebody thought it deserved a medal. Probably for the successes in the war against age-statementless spirits? Anyway, it contains all the necessary information.
Nose
Instant sweetness. Vinous, could be Barolo, not sure. Fruity with raisins and unripe bananas, bread, cake and confectioner’s cream. Like walking into a French patisserie. Oh and tart aux fruits. Bourbon-y. Quite lovely, although I am still searching for the characteristic notes I normally associate with Springbank.
Taste
A clash between the Hazelburn signature and the Barolo wine. Lots of tannins, therefore quite dry. Sweet apricots, summer in Italy, fierce, which overpowers unfortunately the Hazelburn profile. Luckily it decides to make a comeback, well almost. The Barolo is quite good though.
Overall
I cannot really say it is a bad whisky. Most likely they used a good Barolo cask, therefore it comes clearly through. That is, however, also the problem. The Barolo overpowers the Hazelburn profile, and I am not sure they really do complement each other anyway. Good try, but I rather have one of the standard Hazelburn expressions.
- Review 2017-080
- Single malt
- Springbank Distillery
- Springbank
- Distilled in 2007
- Bottled in 2016
- 6 years in bourbon and 3 years in Barolo casks
- Natural colour
- Non chill-filtered
- 43
- Undisclosed number of bottles
- ±89
- Still available
- Whiskybase #88930
What others say
A sample of this was purchased from !
Scores
• these are my personal views, so do not take them too seriously… nothing beats tasting these for yourself •
- Apricots
- Wine
- Cake