Wolfburn Stille Nacht

Wolfburn Stille Nacht, a single malt from the far north distillery at Thurso, bottled at 46%. Just 240 bottles were filled. Wolfburn is a far north craft distillery at Thurso in Caithness, working by hand 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 refill bourbon cask held it, keeping the clean character to the fore. Carrying no age, it leans on apple, citrus and a clean malt. Hand filled and hand bottled, each cask is followed closely from fill to glass. The new distillery stands about 350 metres from the old ruins, sharing the Wolf Burn that names them both. 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.

Reduced to 46%, it is gentle. Green apple, vanilla and a sea air lift, and the refill bourbon lends a quiet vanilla. It is fresh and fruity, the fruit and oak well matched. The finish is bright, fruity and coastal. This is a bright young single malt from Caithness.