WOLFBURN Tasting

What a delightful online tasting. Thank you yet again dear Raymond Martinelli of The Academy of Single Malt Whisky Explorers. Please enjoy my tasting notes from this evening’s tasting. Thank you Mark Westmorland, the Global Brand Ambassador for WOLFBURN. It was positively outstanding.

You can win a dram pack by donating to the foodbank local to the Academy’s hometown. You can enter on the website. Your name is entered to win a dram pack plus two for a total of six drams, as well as a bottle of WOLFBURN. The draw happens this Wednesday! Be sure to sign up for a good cause and best of luck.

Click Here: Events & Merchandise (smwe.ca)

Now, onto my tasting notes from this evening. Forgive any slight grammar or spelling errors. I’m four drams in and I couldn’t be happier at the moment 🙂 Drink responsibly and enjoy. Slainte

~~~~~~~~

WOLFBURN TASTING: The Academy of Single Malt Whisky Explorers

Dram 1: NORTHLAND

Colour: A wonderfully pale Scotch, quite unoffending and palatable to all.

Nosing: Smells like a fine Scotch. After a slight sip – we gave cheers to open the tasting – the peat really opened on the nose. There’s a Glen Moray and Bunnahabhain (core range) feel to the nose, but it’s slightly gentler than these other distilleries. It’s nice to find a dram that’s more subtle because the whisky I drink depends on my mood. This dram’s nose speaks well to an afternoon garden party and other lighthearted occasions. Certainly, it could be served at any upscale event, but if someone were to ask me for a specific venue, I would say an apéritif during cocktail hour following a wedding ceremony and before supper. I’m picturing a Golf & Country Club setting on a warm mid-summer afternoon.

Palate: delicate, slightly saccharine with minimal wood influence although those notes are present. There’s a delightful heat – not peppery, but more of a capsaicin sensation. It prickles the tongue and when taken in conjunction with the dry finish it whets the palate nicely drawing you in for another go around.

With H2O: The peat mellows on the nose revealing a youthful yet mature floral bouquet including magnolia, white long stem rose, early peony and just a gentle hint of earthiness that lends to dandelions. With water the nosing becomes elegant and nostalgic in tandem. On the palate peat softens, heat is still present although slightly muted, saline notes begin to come through, and the floral notes amplify while balanced idyllically with a saccharine foundation. The texture of the Scotch becomes quite velvety, which draws you in deeply. Without water it is an excellent dram, but I would recommend with water because it brings out all the best parts of the Scotch.

Finish: short to medium, dry, an acidic-sweet and a spicy prickly heat, which in this case is closer to a white pepper experience.

Overall Thoughts: This is an approachable, enjoyable, young dram. The peat is rather present, but not in an overwhelming way. There is a time and place for overwhelming peat – I love Lagavulin and Laphroig – however, when you’re seeking a strong peat that is intentionally delicate this a dram that should immediately come to mind. You and your guests will be impressed with each sip. NORTHLAND can be relied on to nurture the palate till the last drop.

Dram 2: AURORA

Colour: late winter sunrise gold

Nosing:  There is a milieu of classic sherry and bourbon notes, which is warming and comforting, unexpectedly invigorating. There are plenty of orchard fruits including cherry, orange, pear, and ripe apricot. Expect caramels and vanillas present in a ratio, which is not overwhelming but instead provides a reputable foundation to the fruit notes.

Palate: This is rather unique. I have not tried a dram like this before, which makes it quite intriguing. There is a counterpoint happening in the dram. The sherry notes are proud and in tandem the bourbon notes are prominent. It is almost as if the dram is asking the imbiber to draw their attention to the bass and cello section while the violas pluck and slide as the piccolo chirps on the occasional offbeat. It’s the war between sherry and bourbon notes that makes you stop, listen, take in each note and think. The marriage between the simplicity and clarity of sherry and bourbon results in a melodious cacophony creating a complex counterpoint. This palate is intellectual yet utterly inviting.

With H2O: the caramels and other bourbon notes open up considerably leaving a warming sensation to the upper belly that is wholly pleasurable.

Finish: long and gentle with saccharine notes as described in the nosing.

Overall Thoughts: resulting from aging in half the time in bourbon casks and the other half sherry casks

Dram 3: MORVEN

Colour: translucent marigold

Nosing: What a lovely peat that arrives on the nose immediately. There is a delicate yet present smokiness that is guarded and enriched with saccharine notes including the classic caramels, toffees, and a gentle wood influence. As noted with others in the tasting, this is an excellent dram to introduce others to peated expressions. Interestingly, there is a lovely marigold note to match the colouring.

Palate: this is a light, delicate peated expression. There is enough wood to bring complexity to this dram for the more experienced tippler, and this is married into a confluence of gentle notes of dried apricot, mandarin, assorted Christmas coffee table nuts, and dark chocolate. None of these notes are too potent. Rather, there is a balanced symphonic approach to all of these notes.

With H2O: The nosing is rounded out and balanced including all above notes. On the palate, saccharine notes comes to the surface and are rounded out well with saline, caramels and subtle dark chocolate.

Finish: long, gentle, velvety with a gentle acidic touch that lends itself to a caramel forward essence rounded out with subtle dark chocolate and peat. There is a definite oceanic feel to this  finish, which as a Canadian west coaster is lovely bringing me home to the spray and wash of the Pacific.

Overall Thoughts: This is a delicate yet mature and elegant peated expression, which means it is accessible to peat-newbies while remaining intriguing and desirable to experienced Scotch drinkers.

Dram 4: LANGSKIP

Colour: Quite akin to barley in the field leading up to harvest.

Nosing: A mature nosing ripe with heavy esters and balanced with light -O-.

Palate: A wonderful, unexpected spice that wakes you up. What I like about this dram is that it is unapologetic. You are going to get immediate, intense spice with each and every sip. If you like the heat of a high proof bourbon you will love this dram! Think intense bourbon heat without the overwhelmingly sweet finish.

With H2O: the heat and dark chocolate jump out of the Glencairn on the nose. Wow, does the water ever bring out the heat in this dram. This is not for the faint of heart. I am loving this with water. There are soothing sweetening notes that cradle the body’s organs while the venturous spices heat the cockles.

Finish: medium, a wonderful slight granny apple tartness rounded out with gentle caramel, and a lovely lingering heat.

Overall Thoughts: This dram is accessible to many, however it will be best enjoyed by experienced tipplers who can tease out the significant number of available nosing and palate notes. This dram demands an excited mindfulness whilst offering an embracing easy like feel. If you have a bourbon lover in your life who is looking to branch out into Scotch this is the recommended go-to. Really, do not look further. This will impress the bourbon lover in your life with its gentle after taste whilst retaining its heat.