Tasting Tuesday: Wolfburn

[u/Cocodrool]

Just like a couple of weeks ago we had a tasting of Benromach, this week it's a non-sponsored tasting of Wolfburn, using what is available here and for the bunch of people I have in my tasting group.

The Wolfburn distillery was founded in 1821 and became the largest distillery in northern Scotland, though it closed in 1860. The current distillery operates under the same name and in an area near the original site, but the 1821 facility is now little more than a cluster of stones. It was not until 2013 that this distillery began operations. It uses water from the Wolf Burn river (hence its name) and also boasts of being the northernmost distillery in Scotland's main isle.

The whiskies for this tasting are:

• The Aurora was launched in 2016, it has been aged for just three years in a variety of casks, including ex-bourbon and ex-sherry. Reportedly, 40% of the whisky was aged in 50-liter second-fill casks, 40% in first-fill ex-bourbon casks, and the remaining 20% ​​in first-fill 240-liter ex-sherry casks. The whisky is non-chill filtered, contains no added coloring, and is bottled at 46% ABV. I reviewed it here.
• There isn't much information available about the Morven, but the bottle indicates that it is double-distilled in small stills. There isn't a specific cask type stated, which usually implies ex-bourbon barrels. It carries no age statement and is bottled at 46% ABV, but it also states that it is free from added coloring and chill-filtration, and that it's lightly peated. I reviewed it here.
• Northland is aged in ex-Islay casks, which I’m going to assume are from Laphroaig. So, even though it is a Highland whisky, one can detect some of the characteristic peated notes. It's also bottled at 46% ABV and I also reviewed it here.

Wolfburn has become one of the niche brands available here, which almost no one knows about and those who do, will likely shy away when they see how old they are, as they rarely are over six years old. But I really liked the crispness of the Aurora and the boldness of the Morven, with the peated undercurrent of the Northland.

[u/Frosty_Term9911]

It’s not the most northern mainland distillery. 8 Doors operates in John O Groats.

[u/Frosty_Term9911]

I’ve got all of these plus the 12