Wolfburn Cask Strength

Wolfburn Cask Strength, a single malt from the far north distillery at Thurso, bottled at 56.9%. Founded in 2013, Wolfburn is a small, hand run distillery at Thurso in Caithness. Everything is done by hand here, from milling to bottling, in the manner of a true small distillery.

The spirit was run through the distillery's one wash and one spirit still, for a clean, fruity make. A sherry butt held it, the wood lending raisin and walnut. Without an age statement, it is light, coastal and fruity. A long fermentation builds the fruity esters the casks then frame. 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. Everything here is done by hand, from milling to bottling, the mark of a true small distillery. Most of the make is unpeated, with a lightly peated malt distilled since 2014 for a soft smoke.

At a natural 56.9% it is full and lively. Pear, honey and a clean malt, and sherried dried fruit and a nutty edge come through. 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.