Wolfburn Private Bottling 3 Years Old 2014

A Wolfburn single malt, a 3 year old from 2014, cask 319, bottled at 55%. Just 188 bottles were filled. Wolfburn, at Thurso on Scotland's far north coast, revived an old Caithness distilling name when it opened in 2013. Wolfburn distils, matures and bottles all on its one small site at Thurso.

Distilled by hand in a single pair of copper stills on Wolf Burn water, building the fresh far north style. It was matured in ex-Bourbon oak, lending vanilla and a soft honey. Young here, it keeps a clean, fruity vigour over light vanilla. Quarter casks, smaller than usual, speed the exchange between spirit and wood. 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. It is the most northerly distillery on the Scottish mainland, a stop on the North Coast 500.

At a full 55% it is bold and fruity. A light, citrussy fruitiness, and the ex-Bourbon lends vanilla and a soft honey. Beneath it run apple, citrus and a soft malt. It closes fresh, fruity and clean. This is a light, fresh Highland single malt from the far north.