Wolfburn Sherry Aged Whisky Cask #87

Wolfburn Sherry Aged Whisky Cask #87, a single malt from the far north distillery at Thurso, cask 87, bottled at 56.9%. Just 320 bottles were filled. Set on the wild Caithness coast at Thurso, Wolfburn has made single malt since 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. 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. Sherry wood suits the light make, lending dried fruit and a nutty depth. 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 56.9%, undiluted, it is bright and full. A light, citrussy fruitiness, and the Oloroso lends raisin, walnut and a dried fruit richness. 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.