Wolfburn Private Cask Bottling 9 Years Old 2014

A Wolfburn single malt, a 9 year old from 2014, cask 512, bottled at 56.6%. Just 164 bottles were filled. Wolfburn, at Thurso on Scotland's far north coast, revived an old Caithness distilling name when it opened in 2013. It is the most northerly distillery on the Scottish mainland, on the North Coast 500 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. Around six to nine years the fruit deepens into honey, apple and a soft spice. The cool, salt laden far north air works into the dunnage warehouses by the burn. The stills came from Forsyths of Rothes, the most respected still maker in the business. The distillery sits among the rugged scenery of Caithness, near the cliffs and beaches of the north coast.

Bottled at a cask strength 56.6%, it is intense. A light, citrussy fruitiness, and the ex-Bourbon lends vanilla and a soft honey. It is clean and fruity, the young spirit shining through. A fruity, gently saline finish lingers. This is a fruity Highland malt from Scotland's most northerly mainland distillery.