Wolfburn The Braves 5 Years Old 2016

A Wolfburn single malt, a 5 year old from 2016, cask 48, bottled at 58.5%. Just 300 bottles were filled. Set on the wild Caithness coast at Thurso, Wolfburn has made single malt since 2013. Everything is done by hand here, from milling to bottling, in the manner of a true small distillery.

The spirit was made by hand in copper stills at Thurso, to build a soft, fruity, coastal character. A sherry butt held it, the wood lending raisin and walnut. Young here, it keeps a clean, fruity vigour over light vanilla. The cool, salt laden far north air works into the dunnage warehouses by the burn. 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. It is the most northerly distillery on the Scottish mainland, a stop on the North Coast 500.

At 58.5%, undiluted, it is bright and full. A fresh, fruity coastal sweetness, and raisin and a nutty sherry depth build. A green apple and a citrus note lift it. It finishes clean, fresh and fruity. This is Wolfburn, the far north Highland malt.