Wolfburn is a new single malt Scotch whisky being distilled, matured, and bottled in the northernmost distillery located on the Scottish mainland. The label is the namesake of a previous distillery which stood on the site of the present day operation in Thurso, Caithness. The elder Wolfburn was itself named for a nearby freshwater source, the Wolf Burn, with “burn” referring to a small river or large stream. Construction for a new spirit-producing operation began in 2011, yielding the first new whiskies in January of 2013. The first bottles offered for sale hit the market in March of 2016.
There is an interesting juxtaposition of old and new in the marketing for Wolfburn. While there is a fond reverence for the history of the previous distilling operations, the website and social media presence for the label is decidedly forward-thinking. The result is an attractive package which provides insight into the whisky in intimate detail without becoming overly complicated. Top marks for presentation as far as these elements of the brand are concerned.
Though the labels for Wolfburn carry no front-label age statement, the somewhat fine print on the rear-facing label does detail the whisky as having been “matured in ex-bourbon oak casks for 3 years.” In addition, Wolfburn is non-chill filtered and naturally colored.
Tasting Notes: Wolfburn Single Malt
Vital Stats: 46% ABV (92 proof), aged 3 years, 100% malted barley, $55-$65 per 750 ml bottle.
Appearance: Light golden straw in color. Quick legs.
Nose: Very malty and young. Notes of disinfectant and mint. Light amount of brine. Slightly sour and medicinal.
Palate: More rounded than the nose would suggest. Sweet, malty, and young. Light pepper, notes of fresh melon. Exceptionally clean. Not as abrasive a burn as can sometimes be expected from a three-year-old whisky in the finish. Subtle smokiness on the back end of the finish. Sweet and clean.
Conclusion:
Clearly, a great deal of time and money has been invested into the marketing department for this release. I, for one, appreciate this attention to detail in the presentation of what may otherwise be an easy single malt to overlook. I will be very interested to see future releases from this distillery in the far north.
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As opening notes go, Wolfburn single malt gives a competent performance. Where the label loses some of its appeal is in comparison to other whiskies in a similar price point. The mid-$50-$60 range is pretty heavily stacked with established labels, most of which offer a bit more finesse and complexity.
FINAL SCORE: 81/100
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