Wolfburn No. 128
Review by Wolfburn
- Nose
Fresh out of the sample bottle in to the glass theres an initial big hit of tobacco smoke this subsides very quickly and is no longer discernible after a short period of resting. Lemon peels are sweetened by toffee, honey and vanilla notes. Warming peat is ever-present, but never overwhelming and is part heathery, part smoky. Theres an underlying earthiness and mild salinity, both of which Id associate with Wolfburns spirit.
- Palate
Sweet honey first and then apples, and honey-dew melons make for a really fresh, crisp and clean experience. Light vanilla, and light smoke, as with the nose, the peating is very sympathetic. Again, theres quite some difference when rested with development lengthened and flavours deeper and more complicated.
- Finish
Medium length finish with a well-judged level of tannic astringency from the increased contact with the smaller barrel.
- Note
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Wolfburns core bottlings of Northland and Aurora are soon to be bolstered with the new peated expression Morven. In advance of that the alchemists from Thurso are presenting us with Wolfburn No.128 their first small batch whisky. Matured in smaller casks from a lightly peated spirit, No.128 provides us with our first proper look at a smokier Wolfburn.
The lighted peated spirit of 128 has been matured in slightly unusual 100 litre (close to the size of a Quarter Cask) first-fill ex-bourbon casks. Smaller casks usually mature at a faster rate given the higher level of contact between liquid and wood. However, there are potential downsides to this with a higher rate of evaporation of spirit and possibly too much wood influence if left unchecked.
A recent cask sampling by Wolfburn found that a standard 1st fill ex-bourbon cask filled in 2013 had evaporated at a rate of about 2.5% a year and was sitting at 58% ABV (from an original fill strength of 63.5%), whereas an octave (very small at around 46 litres) had evaporated at over 8% a year and the ABV had dropped markedly down to 49% in only 3 years.
Wolfburn No.128 is named after the casks its composed of theyre all drawn from warehouse No.1, stow number 28. The limited release has an outturn of 6,000 bottles and will be available towards the end of July 2017.
