Wolfburn Single Cask Cask #899

A Wolfburn single malt, a 5 year old from 2015, cask 899, bottled at 58.9%. Just 310 bottles were filled. Wolfburn is the most northerly distillery on the Scottish mainland, at Thurso in Caithness, where whisky has flowed again since 2013. 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. Ex-Bourbon casks held it, soft oak that lets the coastal fruit lead. At just a few years old it is bright and fresh, the young coastal spirit to the fore. Refill oak lets the fresh, fruity distillery character lead. 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 hearty 58.9% it carries real punch. Pear, honey and a clean malt, and ex-Bourbon oak gives vanilla and a light apple. 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.