Wolfburn 10 Years Old Cask #116 + 264

A Wolfburn single malt, a 10 year old from 2014, cask 116 + 264, bottled at 57.8%. Just 1302 bottles were filled. Wolfburn is a far north craft distillery at Thurso in Caithness, working by hand since 2013. Wolfburn distils, matures and bottles all on its one small site at Thurso.

Distilled slowly on soft Wolf Burn water, giving the clean, fruity coastal spirit. Ex-Sherry wood added a dried fruit richness to the fresh make. At this age, old for so young a distillery, it is fuller and more honeyed. Hand filled and hand bottled, each cask is followed closely from fill to glass. The far north air, salt laden and cool, lends the maturing spirit a coastal edge. The original Wolfburn, founded in 1821 by William Smith, was once the largest distillery in Caithness before falling silent in the 1860s. The new distillery stands about 350 metres from the old ruins, sharing the Wolf Burn that names them both.

At 57.8%, undiluted, it is bright and full. Apple, citrus and a clean malt, and the Oloroso adds figgy fruit and a warm nuttiness. The mouthfeel is light, the fruit carried on a clean body. A long, fruity finish carries a coastal lift. This is a clean, fruity Highland single malt.