Wolfburn Morven Single Malt

Wolfburn tasting at The Oak Barrel, Sydney, May 30th 2019: Whisky #3 Nose: A very mild, almost understated peat aroma that mingles with a fruity-floral distillate. Notes of pineapple, tangerine, peach, and apricot nectar, but in a subtle and diluted form. The initial scent is floral, almost candy-like, with fruit and a hint of vanilla, but as the whisky rests and opens in the glass, smoke becomes more evident. It's a simple nose, but the balance between the two main elements is good. Palate: A sweeter and richer arrival compared to the Northland and Aurora expressions. The peat smoke is more pronounced on the palate than the nose, and the tasting notes are inverted - the smoke appears first, followed by the emergence of fruity and sweet notes during development. There's a slight hint of brine, and the spicy kick often found in young Wolfburn is much less sharp here, resembling sweet chili sauce and ginger in syrup more than black and white pepper. Raisin and sweet malt make an appearance, and the texture is well-balanced, leaning slightly towards creamy. Finish: Medium/long. The spicy and smoky characteristics fade slowly, and the finish is generally pleasant, though there's a bitter quality in the aftertaste. An enjoyable whisky made using very lightly peated malt.

This is my second Wolfburn, the "Morven", and it's an expression I've heard about often in the last couple of years, as some critics I follow have praised it. Another no-age-statement release from this distillery, marketed as a lightly peated single malt. It's bottled at 46% ABV and has a pale straw color. The aroma is quite peaty, actually, in a very fragrant and gentle way. Burnt hay and ashtray are the first identifiable notes. Cigarettes, lemongrass, fairly peaty. There's a citrus note that's like a cheap air freshener. After the first taste, pear, meringue, and ham notes emerged. The palate starts spicy and gradually reveals some fruity notes. Pepper, gooseberries, ashy, and a faint saltiness. A second sip brought apples, cider, and vanilla cream. Meringue. The finish is peaty and smooth. Cigarette smoke, salt, and a subtle apple note. It's short and not very complex, but it's not bad. Overall, I truly believe this could be a good whiskey for individuals beginning to explore peaty flavors and aromas. It feels like an introductory dram, very well presented without harsh alcohol notes. A balanced single malt, I rate it a solid 85 out of 100.

A sophisticated Single Malt Scotch Whisky from Wolfburn Distillery in Highlands, Scotland; a gently smoked variation of their signature Highland Single Malt, launched in 2017. It begins aromatically with hints of smoke, sea salt, sharp oak, green grapes, tart apple & damp earth; a rich & robust middle adds notes of pipe smoke, sweetened cherry, browned fruit, cookies & pepper; concluding with a rich & zesty finish featuring hints of shortbread, ginger, dried fruit & baking spices. May 2020 / August 2022

Sample from the Summerton Virtual Whisky Festival. First, this is an extremely easy-drinking whisky. There's a touch of peat (10ppm) and some coastal saltiness. It lacks the intense flavors of some Islay powerhouses, but they've utilized some ex-Laphroaig Quarter Casks, and that influence is certainly noticeable throughout. The finish reveals more smoke, some spice, and a lingering aftertaste of ginger and chili that lasts a long time. Another excellent dram from Wolfburn.

I sampled most of the Wolfburn spirits at an event. Among Aurora, 375, Northland, Morven, Langskip, The Nectar, and 318, I liked the 375 and 318 the best. However, there are better choices for me at this price point. Morven had a light peaty BBQ smoke on the nose and palate. A bit of medicinal alcohol. Not very strong in flavor.

This one isn't much better than its counterpart "Northland". The peat offers some character, but unfortunately, I don't detect much beyond the peat and the slight fruitiness inherited from the base "Northland". Sadly, the peat isn't very pleasant either and feels out of place. It really needs more time to mature, which might improve it.