Wolfburn Single Cask #2013#159 11 Years Old 2013 (Oloroso)

A Wolfburn single malt, an 11 year old from 2013, cask 2013#159, bottled at 54.5%. Wolfburn is the most northerly distillery on the Scottish mainland, at Thurso in Caithness, where whisky has flowed again since 2013. Water comes from the Wolf Burn, the stream that runs past the distillery to the sea.

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. At this age, old for so young a distillery, it is fuller and more honeyed. The slow loss of the angel's share concentrates the fruity, coastal core over time. The distillery sits among the rugged scenery of Caithness, near the cliffs and beaches of the north coast. Hand filling and hand labelling are still the rule in the warehouses here. A young distillery, Wolfburn has built a following quickly since its first single malt in 2016.

Undiluted at 54.5%, it is powerful. Green apple, vanilla and a sea air lift, and sherried dried fruit and a nutty edge come through. The mouthfeel is light, the fruit carried on a clean body. A long, fruity finish carries a coastal lift. This is a clean, fruity Highland single malt.