Wolfburn 100 Years Of The Poppy

A Wolfburn single malt, bottled at 46%. Just 1921 bottles were filled. Wolfburn is the most northerly distillery on the Scottish mainland, at Thurso in Caithness, where whisky has flowed again since 2013. The new distillery stands some 350 metres from the ruins of the old, sharing the Wolf Burn that gives both their name.

It was worked through the distillery's small copper stills, for a light, citrussy spirit with a sea air lift. A sherry cask wrapped the light spirit in dried fruit and a nutty depth. Carrying no age, it leans on apple, citrus and a clean malt. A long fermentation builds the fruity esters the casks then frame. The core range runs Northland, Aurora, Morven and Langskip, names drawn from the far north. The Kylver Series gathers single casks named for the runes of an ancient Caithness stone. Water is drawn from the Wolf Burn, the stream that runs past the distillery to the sea.

At 46% it is supple and fresh. Green apple, vanilla and a sea air lift, and raisin and a nutty sherry depth build. It is fresh and fruity, the fruit and oak well matched. The finish is bright, fruity and coastal. This is a bright young single malt from Caithness.