Wolfburn Aurora

Rating: 7/23 I recall this might be a young scotch, perhaps just barely legal. I'm hesitant, but let's see. N: The aroma is surprisingly full with toasted barley, hay, and a pleasant honey-like sweetness suggesting peaches, pears, and some vanilla. There's also a little light spice - mainly ginger, but also some cinnamon and a whisper of clove. This suggests a bourbon barrel was used for aging. The ethanol is present, but not marred by other unpleasant alcohols. I really can't guess the age from this nose; it smells like it was aged for a long time (maybe 15 years?) in barrels that were tired but still good. The base spirit also smells quite nice. It's definitely a success. P: It's a clean palate that starts with more spice and a drier taste than anticipated. The clove and ginger are much more prominent than expected, with even a hint of turmeric. The palate is a bit thin and less sweet than I'd hoped. The spice is quite hot and a little harsh, but not excessively so. The roasted barley is there, but not as rich or deep as I'd expected. I detect some cinnamon, but also a lot of peppery harshness as I continue drinking. This is rapidly losing my favor due to the harshness. It's like it aims to be a well-aged Glen Grant in bourbon barrels but falls short. There's even a faint soapy hint of some bitter alcohol (possibly from the tails) that wasn't fully aged out. Given the harshness, thinness, and the presence of an immature-tasting tail flavor, I suspect this is a young whiskey made mostly from hearts. The toasted barley is good, so I'm not entirely certain of its quality. There's also some hay with it. It doesn't have a chalky cereal taste that would indicate youth. It's somewhat bland apart from the toast, so I believe this is an attempt to mask a young whiskey using mild barley and almost exclusively hearts. F: The spice is the most noticeable element in the finish, maintaining its pepperiness and a touch of woodiness for a long duration. It's quite a dull and slightly unpleasant end. I really enjoyed the nose and was expecting to give this almost a 15 based on that. Unfortunately, the palate and finish aren't as good. It's harsh, light, and bland. It's not even as flavorful as Pure Scot, though I'd say the flavors it does possess are more pleasant and better executed. They have similar levels of harshness, though this might be slightly less harsh. I'd say it's a clear win for Wolfburn, but that's not a high standard. Sir Edward's 12 is certainly superior. This seems like a 7 to 8. A 9 would be a real stretch. I think the 7 range is most fitting. If it were less harsh, it could be an 8 and possibly even reach a 9. Wait, I just found out it's aged in sherry barrels?! It doesn't taste like sherry at all! How did they make the sherry flavor so undetectable?! It's either very light sherry or these were very tired barrels (likely the latter).

Wolfburn Masterclass at The Oak Barrel, Sydney, May 30th 2019: Whisky #2. Nose: Similar to the Northland expression - fruity and floral, but with a sherry and dark fruit note replacing the musky brine. Well-integrated, rounded, and creamy with touches of marmalade, malt, and brine. The sherry is well-controlled, acting more as a spice for the fruity distillate rather than dominating. Palate: A smoother, silkier, and sweeter arrival than the Northland. The Wolfburn spicy burst is present again but buffered by sherry here. The texture is a bit more rounded, and overall, this is less vibrantly bright than the all-quarter cask Northland. There's a bit of brine towards the end. Finish: Medium. Spicy sweet with a sweet fruity and umami touch, tapering off into a very faintly salty/sweet cereal finish. The maturation is in a mix of 1st-fill ex-bourbon barrels and 1st-fill Oloroso hogsheads. (Note: This differs from the cask regime stated on this site but is accurate. Contemporary Aurora contains no quarter-cask component.) The whiskies are matured separately and then married in an 80% bourbon to 20% sherry ratio. The more flavorful and active cask maturation gives this whisky a bigger and fruitier presence. For me, it was different but equal in quality to the Northland expression. Northland showcases the excellent Wolfburn new-make in its pure form, whereas here, the sherry presence and the richness of the 1st-fill casks elegantly dress the new make. "Good": 84/100 (3.75 stars).

My initial encounter with Wolfburn was their "Aurora" expression, one of several I've noticed recently from this distillery, prompting me to explore their range. It's reported to be matured in a mix of ex-bourbon casks and oloroso sherry butts. This non-age statement whisky is bottled at 46% ABV, is non-chill filtered, and displays a pleasant light golden color. The aroma is very inviting. It starts with a maize note, which initially concerned me, suggesting it might be harsh and young, but I was mistaken. It has aromas of spongy cake, apple juice, and a distinctly 'beachy' feel. Notes of cantaloupe, very fresh, yeasty, and creamy, appear alongside lemongrass and Danish cookies. After the first taste, hints of vanilla ice cream and a beautiful coconut aroma are released. The palate is exceptionally easy to drink. It features notes of hay and some tropical fruits like papaya and cantaloupe. Vanilla fondant, abundant vanilla custard, and a subtle hint of pineapple juice are present. The aftertaste carries a mild, appealing smoky and tobacco note, along with a grassy, peaty finish. While not exceptionally long, it's very enjoyable. Overall, this was a very good whisky that I thoroughly enjoyed. It might not be overly complex or bursting with flavor, but it successfully delivers a pleasing experience for the drinker. I didn't detect any distinct oloroso sherry notes, but the tropical profile and creamy characteristics are skillfully crafted. My rating for this highly likable single malt is 87 out of 100.

Nose: Hint of hay, unripe apple, light tea. Taste: Floral apple juice sweetness, ginger, clover honey, hint of vanilla, gentle warmth, hint of lemon pith, light nutty skin bitterness. Finish: Lingering warmth/tingle, light sour floral apples. Score: 81/100. Final Thoughts: This is a fairly pleasant dram, nothing overly complex, and I honestly wouldn't have guessed any sherry influence if I hadn't known beforehand. It tastes almost like it came from exclusively heavily reused ex-bourbon casks, as the vanilla notes are very subtle. The overall experience is floral with a hint of apple. Light ginger spice and a touch of acidity that I liken to lemon pith. Overall, quite drinkable, but not complex enough to warrant deep contemplation. Would I drink it if offered? Yes. Would I specifically order it? No. Would I buy a bottle? No. NOTE: All reviews are done without factoring in price.

An elegant Single Malt Scotch Whisky from Wolfburn Distillery in the Highlands of Scotland. 40% of the spirit matures in second-fill quarter casks, 40% in first-fill ex-Bourbon barrels, and 20% in first-fill Oloroso Sherry hogshead casks. It begins aromatically with notes of cut grass, dark chocolate, raw almond, and hints of apple. Its balanced middle adds notes of raisins, flowers, melons, and vanilla, leading to a long and creamy end with notes of rancio, dried spices, oak, and a touch of peat. Bottled April / December 2020 / August 2022.

The aroma is like artificial bourbon sugar. Sherry and quarter cask notes are faintly present in the background, so dried fruit notes are there but not prominent. Because it's a first-fill bourbon cask, you get all the woody spice notes directly on your nose and palate from beginning to end. It's fitting, like the distiller's name, Wolf'burn. The bitterness also comes through, likely from these first-fill American oak casks. If it used perhaps second or third-hand ex-bourbon casks, it might be more to my liking.