Wolfburn The Kylver Series – 10

This is release 10 of Wolfburn's Kylver Series, its single cask bottlings, named Nauthiz for a Norse rune., bottled at 51.8%. Wolfburn is a far north craft distillery at Thurso in Caithness, working by hand since 2013. Most of the make is unpeated, with a lightly peated malt distilled since 2014 for a gentle smoke.

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. Carrying no age, it leans on apple, citrus and a clean malt. A young distillery, Wolfburn leans on active casks, the wood shaping much of the flavour. The core range runs Northland, Aurora, Morven and Langskip, names drawn from the far north. 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.

At 51.8%, undiluted, it is bright and full. Green apple, vanilla and a sea air lift, and raisin and a nutty sherry depth build. 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.