Wolfburn The Kylver Series – 12

This is release 12 of Wolfburn's Kylver Series, its single cask bottlings, named Jera for a Norse rune., bottled at 52.6%. Wolfburn is the most northerly distillery on the Scottish mainland, at Thurso in Caithness, where whisky has flowed again since 2013. The Kylver Series of single casks is named for the runes of an ancient Caithness stone.

The spirit was run through the distillery's one wash and one spirit still, for a clean, fruity make. An ex-Bourbon barrel or quarter cask shaped it, vanilla beneath the fruit. No age is given, but the fresh fruit marks it as young Wolfburn. The slow loss of the angel's share concentrates the fruity, coastal core over time. A young distillery, Wolfburn has built a following quickly since its first single malt in 2016. The far north air, salt laden and cool, lends the maturing spirit a coastal edge. The original Wolfburn, founded in 1821 by William Smith, was once the largest distillery in Caithness before falling silent in the 1860s.

At its natural 52.6% it is concentrated. Pear, honey and a clean malt, and the bourbon cask adds vanilla and a gentle sweetness. 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.