Wolfburn Single Cask #2015#403 7 Years Old 2015 (Ex-Bourbon)

A Wolfburn single malt, a 7 year old from 2015, cask 2015#403, bottled at 58.1%. Wolfburn is the most northerly distillery on the Scottish mainland, at Thurso in Caithness, where whisky has flowed again since 2013. The new distillery stands some 350 metres from the ruins of the old, sharing the Wolf Burn that gives both their name.

It was worked through the distillery's small copper stills, for a light, citrussy spirit with a sea air lift. An ex-Bourbon barrel or quarter cask shaped it, vanilla beneath the fruit. Mid age brings a deeper honey and a riper coastal fruit. Refill oak lets the fresh, fruity distillery character lead. The Kylver Series gathers single casks named for the runes of an ancient Caithness stone. Water is drawn from the Wolf Burn, the stream that runs past the distillery to the sea. Wolfburn distils, matures and bottles all on its one small site at Thurso.

Bottled at a cask strength 58.1%, it is intense. Green apple, vanilla and a sea air lift, and the bourbon cask adds vanilla and a gentle sweetness. A vanilla and a sea air note give it lift. Apple, honey and a sea air lift see out the finish. This is a fresh, maritime far north single malt.