Wolfburn 10 Year Old Review: 'Raisins, Figs and Vanilla'

Welcome to the Wolfburn 10 Years Old Review. This is Wolfburn’s first age-stated whisky. In this article, you’ll read what we think of this Scotch.

As consistent as Wolfburn’s motto “Quality over quantity,” so consistent is the presentation of Wolfburn 10 Years Old (a single malt). It comes in a sturdy cardboard box and immediately feels luxurious in the hand. The red-hued packaging features handsome illustrations and gold lettering. It leans more vintage than what we’ve grown used to from other brands these days.

Whisky packaging often opts for a more modern design now, clearly aimed at attracting a younger crowd. With this whisky, Wolfburn clearly takes a different path. And of course, the ‘sea-wolf’ is present on the box. The bottle itself has a sleek, modern shape, with a neck that echoes one of the stills. Altogether, it’s a beautiful presentation.

- Wolfburn 10 Years Old can be ordered from various online retailers and is priced around 65 euros.

A 10-year-old single malt is always a major milestone for a distillery, especially when it’s the first permanent age-stated release. Let’s not forget Wolfburn only started producing whisky in 2013. And now the moment has come: the first 10-year-old single malt from Thurso. As we’ve come to expect from Wolfburn, the 10-year-old is naturally colored and non-chill filtered, bottled at 46% ABV.

This single malt was crafted from spirit fully matured in hand-selected second-fill Oloroso sherry casks. A decade in Spanish sherry oak should promise a lusciously sweet, indulgent whisky. But does it deliver?

Let’s crack the bottle and dive into the aromas and flavors of this northern Highland whisky. The nose is sweet, with initial waves of dried fruits, raisins and figs, followed by vanilla. The aroma isn’t overpowering; in fact, you need to seek it out a bit. Is this really a ten-year-old? The palate edges closer to what you’d expect from a decade in sherry wood, though it never goes over the top. We taste chocolate, raisins, and a touch of caramel. The finish is on the shorter side, but warm and sweet, again with a hint of dried fruit.

Overall, it’s very smooth, perhaps a little simple. It feels as though the cask influence hasn’t fully taken hold yet, and the whisky could have benefited from a bit more time. “Modest” is the word that best describes it, though the new Wolfburn is certainly enjoyable to drink. Secretly, we expected a touch more from those ten years.

+ Beautiful presentation

+ Sweet and easy-drinking

- Sherry influence falls short of expectations

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