Wolfburn Northland

Score: 9/23. The Wolfburn Aurora wasn't great, so I'm not expecting much here, but I'll try it. Nose: I detect some smoke, but not really peat. It has a light aroma with a dry wood character reminiscent of mesquite and barbecue, similar to Corsair Wildfire. There's a touch of hay and a hint of sweetness from the mesquite, which I briefly mistook for barbecue sauce, though that was likely a metal association. A bitter herbal smell with a hint of mint is also present. Describing this light nose, which gives off a knock-off Corsair Wildfire barbecue vibe, took considerable effort. It's not bad, but far from appealing. Palate: Wow, this has more flavor than I anticipated, and it's sweeter too! I immediately taste smoke, accompanied by some peat. There's a flavor of apple, a hint of orange juice, and a hint of meatiness, along with light mesquite, creating a distinct barbecue character. It's somewhat enjoyable, but while I forgive Corsair's quirky barbecue flavor due to its unique distillery and Southern roots, I find this flavor profile in a scotch problematic. There are also some minerals, making it particularly light. It seems slightly less harsh than the Wolfburn Aurora, but it's still somewhat harsh, and I do get an alcohol taste. The palate is acceptable, but certainly not good. Its distinctiveness also feels forced. Finish: The smoke persists, with occasional hints of fruit. It continues to evoke mesquite, bringing barbecue to mind. The finish isn't outstanding, but it might be my favorite part as everything fades into barbecue. No minerals or barley to worry about; just a pleasant smoky finish. This is surprising due to its oddity. I'm quite sure I'd prefer it over the Aurora most days, but that's not a difficult benchmark. This is one of those rare instances where the quirkiness doesn't earn bonus points. It's been done before, executed better, and doesn't belong here. Comparing it to my current cheap scotch standard, Sir Edward's 12, I prefer the core flavor of Sir Edward's slightly, but the smokiness in this one's finish is quite nice, and it lacks the oiliness or other peculiar tastes. However, it is definitely harsher. I'm leaning towards placing it just below Sir Edward's 12, which would make it a high 8 to low 10. So, I'll settle on 9. This vaguely resembles a mix of Corsair Wildfire and Springbank 10, yet it's nowhere near as good as either. I'm referencing Springbank solely for its lightness and hay notes; Springbank 10 is exceptional, complex, and mature, while this is entirely uninspiring. Likewise, Corsair Wildfire is spiced, funky, and rich, making me want to savor it by a warm fire in my bathrobe on Christmas, whereas this is light and bland. I believe a 9 is warranted, but that's my limit. Interestingly, I've just learned Wolfburn only resumed bottling in 2016, indicating this is young spirit, but they've proven adept at handling significant youth. It's not Port Charlotte 10, but it's also not 10 years old. I wouldn't purchase a bottle now, but I'm eager to try it again when they release a 10 or 12-year-old expression. Curiously, the official tasting notes bear no resemblance to the dram I experienced. I'm sure I've disagreed more strongly before, but I'm genuinely surprised by how standard it's described here. I would not call this dram standard.

It's December 2020. Let's conclude this year with a new whiskey daily. My personal whiskey advent calendar. +6! December 14, 2020 I'm somewhat surprised by my lack of familiarity with my own whiskey collection. Recently, I discovered Monkey Shoulder isn't a bourbon. I also seem to have a Flaviar sample kit? I don't know much about Flaviar, but my initial impression from online research is that they overcharge for some items while offering fair prices for less desirable ones. This seems especially true for their sample kits. Now, onto Wolfburn. This spirit is alarmingly clear; I can't recall the last time I saw whisky this pale. It looks lighter than some white dog. Nose: Caramel, sugar, and cigar smoke. Overall, an unappealing aroma. Body: Intense. Jalapeño, smoke, cream. Possibly some chocolate. It's intriguing, but not pleasant. Finish: Spicy, acidic. Like liquid hot sauce. It's stomach-turning. I think I've developed GIRD. After you recover, there's a decent peat aftertaste (good duration, not intensity). The final couple of seconds are the best part, but then you don't want another sip. As a relative newcomer to scotch, with all due humility, I state: this isn't great. If I'm mistaken, please correct me. I have a small amount left, but unless I'm missing something significant, I'll be discarding it. This strongly reminds me of that ridiculous Dickel Tobasco: it sounds interesting in concept, and adding an acidic hot sauce note does create some mild interaction with other flavors. However, it's not enjoyable, and I want no part of it. 'Tis the season. My daily whiskey choice is on a day-to-day basis, so if you're reading this and want me to experience something readily available this holiday season, let me know in the comments. Merry whiskey to all, and to all a beer flight!

Initially, I was very disappointed by this whisky and believed I had wasted my money on a selection that would remain on my shelf for an extended period. All I detected was a strong alcohol burn and very little else, as unpleasant as any young whisky I've encountered. I revisited it a week after first opening it and was pleasantly surprised that either my palate was off that day or the bottle had completely transformed. It was still an obviously young whisky but it now offered green apple, oak, and a touch of smoke in a pleasingly balanced manner; a small addition of water or an ice cube nearly entirely eliminated the alcohol burn. I don't believe it has quite reached its full potential as it's still a young spirit but it demonstrates significant promise for future releases from this distillery and as it is, it is very easy to drink.

Wolfburn Northland 46% Natural Color, Non Chill Filtered This smells remarkably like a young Talisker, which is a great thing. Notes of pepper, vanilla, spice, gentle peat, and a slightly vegetal character. Very nice. Taste presents with plenty of pepper, spice, citrus zest, and mild peated smoke. The finish continues with lingering peat smoke and orange notes. Overall, I'm very fond of this. If you're seeking something different with a well-crafted presentation, I highly recommend trying it. I'm eager to see future offerings from Wolfburn, and even their current releases I haven't yet tried. Overall Grade: B

I'm very fond of this. Despite being young, its youth enhances the whisky's quality rather than diminishing it. It possesses all the flavors I appreciate from Kilchoman, but dialed back, with added sweetness for balance. It's as if Highland Park Magnus was crafted as intended. I'll certainly seek out more from this producer in the future. Nose: Sweetness, citrus, mild alcohol, youthful notes, coastal hints (similar to Bunnahabhain 12), cereal grains, apple, burning leaves Palate: Peat (Kilchoman style), very light saltiness, Honey Nut Cheerios, dried apricots, earthy funk Finish: Medium length, with a subtle return of ash Mouthfeel: Medium thickness, with a lingering, slightly drying sensation.

A refined, Single Malt Scotch Whisky crafted by Shane Fraser for Wolfburn Distillery in Highlands, Scotland, produced using a lengthy fermentation, slow manual distillation & 46% of maturation occurring in quarter casks that previously held peated whisky from Islay. It possesses a rich & clear beginning with hints of Autumn orchard fruits, apple pie, a fresh maltiness, almonds, magnolia, peat smoke & nuts; while a mellow & well-rounded progression adds notes of Honey Nut Clusters breakfast cereal, sweet spices, chocolate croissant, honey, vanilla & earthy peatiness; culminating in a long & delicate conclusion with notes of honey, malt & chocolate. May / September 2019 / February / May 2020 / August 2022