Reviewed by @tastethedram

2 389/100

This sherry oak cask is matured in a combination of casks - 40% of this whisky was aged in second-fill quarter casks, 40% in first-fill ex-bourbon barrels and 20% in first-fill Oloroso Sherry hogsheads.

Name: Wolfburn Sherry Oak Single Malt Scotch Whisky Region: Highland, Scotland Color: Very light amber Nose: Very sherry like sensual, lots of spices, almost like Christmas baked cake, sherry, cherries nuts and sweet molasses. Palate: Raisins, Honey, Dried Fruits, and nice slow light burn. Obviously it has not spent too many years in the barrels, however, you can see the great flavor profile shine through, from a young spirit like this. I can tell that if it spent another 5-7 years in the barrel, the tannins would be rich and fuller of flavor. Finish: Long, spicy sherry, quite wonderful.

@Ol_Jas commented:

A buddy recently visited the distillery and said the newmake is delicious from moment one. Your review backs that up.

@jeanluc commented:

Thanks for the review @tastethedram, I haven't had a chance to try Wolfburn yet but this has whet my appetite

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Reviewed by @Pandemonium

0 177/100

Wolfburn was the first of a whole new generation Scottish craft distillers to fire up her stills. Thus it is only natural that she arrives first at the debutante ball. After a pricy inaugural release for the collectors, we were quickly spoiled with a NAS release for the layman, and another one, and another one,… Hell they seem to be spewing out bottles faster than you can say “Thurso”. All very fine, but there is only one question that needs to be answered: is it any good? According to most respected whisky authors, it most certainly is. Time to check if truth was spoken.

Description: official release, marketed as a NAS, but distilled in 2013 and bottled in 2016 at 46%.

Nose: like a damp sea cave: a shy, salty, mineral concoction of wet limestone. A soft alcoholic touch with notes of cereal, green apple and printer cartridge ink.

Mouth: light oily body, with a palate that is slightly sharp but soon turns sweet. Traces of pepper, (peat?) smoke, almonds, pear juice, just a stray note of mescal and raw cod.

Finish: salty but clean, vanilla, and rubbing alcohol.

Verdict: salt, cod and rubbing alcohol, has anybody ever tried hakarl? No, that would be an unfair and malicious comparison. It is demonstrably fine for a 3yo whisky, but not really as good as some critics would like you to believe. But we shouldn’t expect miracles here: if it had blown me away, I would have lost all faith in the magic of maturation and age statements. To me it is just a youngish whisky that has outgrown its spirit phase, but is still far from reaching maturity. It could be the base for a great future single malt whisky, but why not wait a few more years before you buy a bottle?

@Ol_Jas commented:

Wouldn't pretty much ANYONE buying this understand its age? I can't imagine it's a big mover with the casual drinking & mixing crowd. I wonder that they don't just label it "3 years old."

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Reviewed by @markjedi1

0 285/100

The panic around the pricing of the first single malt from Wolfburn – I was told 220 EUR – was much ado about nothing. Apparently that was only for a special distillery only bottle. Mortals like you and me can get this regular release of the 3 years old single malt for just under 50 EUR. What a relief!

Just like the 2013 spirit sample that I tried, the nose is sweet, full and round. Loads of vanilla, white fruit (pears, but mostly apples), followed by a lovely green note. Think asparagus and a leaf of mint, but also some chalk. Softly spiced on ginger and a bit of woodsmoke. Very pleasant.

The first sip offers loads of pepper and a big smokiness. It is quite oily, by the way. Could this be the peaty version? Must be. Lovely pepper and some soot. Then the fruit returns (it is all apples now). The vanilla and ginger are present on the palate as well. The second sip gives some grasses and a slice of lime. Or is it pink grapefruit? Anyway: agrums. Quite nice indeed.

The finish is medium long and brings back the sweetness. But it remains a maritime malt. That is the same conclusion as I came to after the 28 month old sample.

For 50 EUR a bottle, this warrants a place in the cabinet. This is – keeping the age in mind – a nice introduction. What an entrance, Wolfburn!