Hazelburn 8 Review (2025): When Oloroso Lets Hazelburn Run Wild
Some gifts just mean more. This sample of Hazelburn 8 Oloroso Cask was gifted to me by a good friend, and honestly, a sample of anything from Springbank Distillery is always a great gift in my book. I’m unapologetically nerdy about Springbank — the processes, the stubborn traditionalism, the refusal to modernise for convenience — so a dram like this already arrives with my full attention.
Hazelburn has always been the quiet outlier in the Springbank family. Triple distilled, unpeated, and released far less frequently than its siblings, it doesn’t chase hype. But when Hazelburn meets Oloroso casks, things tend to get interesting very quickly. Oloroso is my favourite style of sherry cask maturation precisely because of the balance it usually brings — structure, dryness, depth — rather than outright sweetness.
This Hazelburn 8 review looks at whether the 2025 release delivers that balance… or gleefully tears it apart.
Hazelburn 8
Hazelburn is distilled only once per year at Springbank and is the distillery’s only triple distilled whisky. That extra distillation generally results in a more lifted, refined spirit, but Springbank’s oily, characterful DNA always finds a way through. Even without peat, Hazelburn never feels thin or overly polite.
This yearly Hazelburn 8 is fully matured in Oloroso sherry casks and bottled at 48.2% ABV, non-chill filtered and without added colour. As with most Springbank-family releases, detailed cask information is scarce, but the philosophy is clear: traditional production, hands-on control, and flavour first.
If you want a deeper understanding of why Springbank whiskies taste the way they do, I strongly recommend reading my Springbank Distillery Spotlight article.
Tasting Notes – Hazelburn 8 Oloroso Cask (2025)
Stats
Age: 8 Years Old
ABV: 48.2% (96,4 Proof)
Distillery: Springbank Distillery
Region: Campbeltown
Flavour Profile: Sherry Velvet
Chill-Filtration: No
Colouring: No
Nose
The nose opens with a dense wave of dried fruits — dates, figs, and sultanas leading the charge. Fresh plums bring a juicier counterpoint, followed by a bright lift of tangerine zest. As it settles, savoury notes start to emerge: worn leather, maple syrup drizzled over beef jerky, and just a light, surprisingly pleasant touch of sulphur that adds depth rather than distraction.
Palate
The palate is restless and constantly shifting. Dried berries and stone fruit collide with brighter, more unusual flavours — cactus flesh, lime peel, and kumquat zest adding a sharp, almost playful edge. Beneath the fruit sits a darker core of liquorice, salted fudge, and dark chocolate, framed by drying oak tannins. A subtle thread of mint runs through everything, pulling the palate in unexpected directions with every sip.
Finish
Long and assertive. Where the mint was a quiet accent on the palate, here it takes the lead. Extra dark chocolate and dried cranberries follow, joined by a faint popsicle stick note that adds dryness rather than bitterness. Right at the end, a touch of brine appears, lending a subtle meaty, savoury edge that firmly anchors this whisky in Campbeltown.
Food Pairing
This is a whirlwind of a whisky that can stand up to bold flavours, but restraint is key. Pair it with something overly complex and the balance quickly collapses into chaos.
Simple, confident choices work best. Steak seasoned with nothing but salt and pepper is an excellent match — and personally, picanha was outstanding alongside this dram. Even something as straightforward as a grilled cheese plays surprisingly well with the whisky’s savoury and minty edges.
For sweet pairings, extra dark chocolate fits neatly. Anything sweeter than that — desserts especially — pushes the whisky out of balance.
Who Is This Whisky For?
This Hazelburn 8 review is aimed at:
- Springbank fans who want to explore the distillery’s more unpredictable side
- Drinkers who enjoy Oloroso casks for structure and tension, not sweetness
- Whisky lovers who value complexity over coherence
If you’re looking for a soothing, easy sherried dram, this will likely frustrate you. If you enjoy whiskies that challenge expectations and refuse to sit still, Hazelburn 8 delivers exactly that.
What Do Others Write About This Whisky?
Independent reviewers have a generally positive view of the 2025 Hazelburn 8 Oloroso Cask, noting expressive sherry influence and interesting flavour balance for a relatively young Campbeltown whisky:
Two Whisky Bros – Hazelburn 8yo Sherry Wood 2025: This review praises the 2025 Hazelburn 8 as very tasty and well balanced for only 8 years of maturation, noting layers of sweet, sour, salty and earthy sherry influences that elevate it beyond a typical sherry bomb. They describe the mouthfeel as relatively oily with red fruits, caramel, oak tannins and coastal hints, concluding it’s a very enjoyable expression.
https://twowhiskybros.co.uk/blogs/blog/hazelburn-8yo-sherry-wood-2025-whiskyland-chapter-fifteen-springbank-30yo
WhiskyNotes – Hazelburn 8 Year Old Oloroso Cask (2025): Highlights a bright, expressive nose where Hazelburn’s industrial, waxy character mixes with praline, dates, walnuts and a hint of raspberry jam. On the palate, there’s spicy wood, salted liquorice, tobacco and dry nutty notes, with a lingering finish of red fruits and liquorice. Overall, they find a great nose and a nicely enjoyable release despite the palate showing its youth.
https://www.whiskynotes.be/2025/hazelburn/hazelburn-8-year-old-oloroso/
Dramface – Hazelburn 8yo Oloroso Cask, 2025 release: In an informal tasting within a dual review, the author initially found this sherried Hazelburn clean and appealing, with sweet, fruity and creamy notes on the nose and rich chocolate, prune and espresso character on the palate. A few pours later it revealed leafy tobacco and meaty notes, pushing it to a strong score that improved with time in the glass.
https://www.dramface.com/all-reviews/2025/springbank-12-cask-strength-2025-hazelburn-8-oloroso
Verdict
Strengths
A whirlwind of flavours and immense complexity, especially given the fact that Hazelburn is triple distilled. The ABV feels much higher than it is, and it really packs a punch. This is a whisky that actively engages you and never stays in one place for long.
Weaknesses
It’s not a coherent or comforting dram. The slight sulphur note and prominent mint won’t work for everyone, and availability is — as always with limited Springbank releases — a real frustration.
Hazelburn 8 vs Kilkerran Sherry Cask & Springbank 10
Compared to Kilkerran Sherry Cask, Hazelburn 8 feels wilder and less linear. Kilkerran’s sherry expressions tend to be firmer and more grounded, while Hazelburn leans into contrast and unpredictability.
Against Springbank 10, the difference is even more pronounced. Springbank 10 is all about balance, coastal character, and quiet complexity. Hazelburn 8 Oloroso is louder, stranger, and far less interested in being an everyday dram.
In short:
- Choose Springbank 10 for balance and classic Campbeltown character
- Choose Kilkerran Sherry Cask for structure and earthy depth
- Choose Hazelburn 8 Oloroso if you want to be challenged
Final Thoughts
This 2025 Hazelburn 8 Oloroso Cask isn’t here to please everyone — and that’s exactly its strength. It takes Hazelburn’s triple-distilled spirit and pushes it into unexpected territory, letting the Oloroso casks pull the whisky in multiple directions at once.
It’s demanding, occasionally unruly, and deeply engaging. For those who value tension, character, and a bit of controlled chaos in their whisky, this release is a powerful reminder of why Springbank — in all its forms — continues to matter.
