Non-chill Filtered

Country: Scotland

Region: Northern Highlands

ABV: 46%

Bottle Size: 70cl

Cask: Over 4years 1st Fill Exbourbon & Fresh Port Hogsheads

Description:

We’re continuing our series of new distilleries reviews, and this time we’ve gone to the most northerly distillery in mainland Scotland: Wolfburn.

Located at Thurso, the location was home to a distillery founded originally in 1821 and operating in the 19th century until it fell into disarray and turned to shambles. In 2011 planning was submitted for a new distillery, and in 2012, the distillery was built. The stills were built by the famous Forsyths of Rothes, and Shane Fraser joined from Gelanfarclas. 2013 saw the first distillation, and in 2014 the first peated Wolfburn spirit was laid down.

Batch 155, the fourth small-batch release from Wolfburn Distillery. It is the only whisky from Wolfburn to have matured in one kind of cask (first-fill ex-bourbon barrels for nearly five years) before being completed in another. There are only 5300 bottles in all (six months in port hogsheads). The outcome is outstanding: a smooth, creamy, easy-to-drink whisky with a depth of sweet flavors from the port influence.

Batch 155, like earlier Wolfburn small-batch releases, was named for the warehouse (Warehouse 1) and the particular row in which the barrels were situated (row 55). Only 5,300 bottles were made from these casks in total, but they created an incredibly smooth, creamy, easy-drinking whisky with a deep sweetness from the Port influence. Packaged at 46%.

It has sweet port flavors mingled with hints of dried fruits on the nose. Aromas of vanilla are next, with a faint undertone of coffee and dark chocolate. It has a palate that, with hints of toffee and vanilla, rich port notes come to the fore. The palate is coated in a fruity richness that tastes like honey and falls fruit with hints of ginger and oak. Finishing the beverage Excellent finish with notes of port, caramel, and dried fruit that linger for a long time after the dram is finished.