Wolfburn 12-year-old

The game is not worth the candle….

A pleasant surpise, a nice allrounder with a distinct character. I like it better than the 10 year old Wolfburn (230518) I tasted earlier, the typical 'dirty' elements are much more balanced in this 12 years old.

Yes, it's drinkable. But it doesn't trigger any positive reaction in me. It could have come from any distillery in Germany. Fairly neutral flavor profile, grain. I can't relate to it. Fruit? This is one of the least fruity drams I've had this year. 51-60 – Drinkable, but really not mine

Tasted this whisky at the Het Oude Vat tasting night on April 9 2026, so again, only brief notes that may be edited later. Even though this dram is coming of age, it is still a bit “uncivilized”. A bit harsh. Let’s just wait for the 15…

Wolfburn 12yo, 46% abv, NCF, NC As stated on the packaging, the spirits were matured in a combination of second-fill Oloroso Sherry Hogsheads and ex-bourbon casks. This release has a higher ABV, was unfiltered, and was tinted. Nose: A rich, heavy, caramel-fruity, mineral aroma with bready undertones. Burnt caramel, fire-roasted rye bread crust, dried apricots, dried apple, apple jam, minerality, sea pebbles, dustiness, ginger burn, cloves, black pepper, spicy oak. Palate: Slightly hot, peppery, fruity, tannic. Dark chocolate, black pepper, rye crust, coal dust, dried apples, honeyed sweetness, ginger burn, spicy notes, tart tannins. Very austere and restrained in sweetness. Finish: The aftertaste is enveloping, warming, peppery with dried fruits, dark chocolate, spicy notes and tart tannins, medium length. Balance: A very austere and stern whisky, a true northerner. The sherry cask imparts only a hint of sweetness, with a hint of phenolic character. A distinctive and rugged whisky that may be off-putting and discouraging to those with a sweet tooth. It will be interesting to see how it develops in the bottle. N22, P21, F21, B21

Discreet nose, but Wolfburn's identity exploses in mouth. A real one. I like it. More bourbon than sherry, even it matured in equal parts.

Wolfburn 12-year-old, 46% ABV. Matured in bourbon and oloroso sherry casks Nose: A somewhat distinctive first impression. A blend of ripe fruit aromas, some dirty smoke, and a light floral component. The whisky then settles down a bit and takes on a more balanced character. Caramel in chocolate, a hint of peach, old water from a flower vase. The peach becomes stronger, apricots and pears emerge, a touch of brown sugar, and a delicate hint of peat smoke. Palate: Surprisingly light mouthfeel, quite smooth. The aromas are immediately present, but initially a bit timid. A light fruitiness with apples, pears, and peaches, a touch of caramel and maple syrup, and a few hazelnuts. Then come wood spice and smoke, with pepper and a slight sharpness from freshly grated ginger, and the sweetness also increases. Finish: Medium-long, soft and creamy, milk chocolate, malt and heather, dried pears. Conclusion: I'm having a real hard time drawing a fair conclusion here. On the one hand, Wolfburn's qualities are easily overlooked, revealing itself as a somewhat rough drinking whisky, albeit creamy and smooth, with a slightly spicy element. The whisky has a certain elegance, but on the other hand, it doesn't yet know where it wants to develop. It's a few shades too light for me. I think with further age, some truly complex bottlings will emerge. 83/100 points (2025)

An improved version of the 10-year-old release, but the alcoholiness on the finish detracts from the overall impression. I really liked the creamy-mineral taste, it is brighter than in the 10-year-old, and the aftertaste is less alcoholic. An improved version of the top ten, with minimal differences, but the flavor and aroma are almost identical. 20 22 21 20

A bit rounder than the 10. Which makes it almost boring. Rather like the divisive 10.

Quite ok, but definitely not a revelation.

Hamburg Trade Fair

My first Wolfburn! Not exceptional, but expressive. A slight spiciness, quite satisfying on the palate. Absolutely adequate for the price!

Maritime characteristics, reminds me a bit of old Pulteney. Solid product which I like way better than their 10 yo release two years ago. Not a must-have for me, but if you need a Wolfburn fix and local shops are out of special releases, this one is a save bet with the range of entry level malts.

Good whisky for sipping, some rubber, burnt wood, but it's so far back in the taste, some sweetness, candy, then a touch of fine smoke (for me, fine) I don't know how others have it) Smell it oloroso, nice guy

Nose: The start is tart. Sweet and bitter melon with seeds plays with copper notes. Taste: I detect a gentle smokiness. The whisky also has a slightly acidic note. With a little aeration, a lovely malty aroma emerges, carrying a rich sweetness. Pepper appears in the finish. Water intensifies the sweetness but doesn't diminish the pepper.

Another weak and inexpressive whisky from Wolfburn. The same old grass, rags and rancid butter. Light malt and mash

Despite being 12 years old, Wolfburn is still in its early stages. The profile is quite special. For me, these are true Highlanders. There's a bit of everything, yet it doesn't seem overly complex. The whisky doesn't have any truly dominant notes. The finish is quite flat. The very slight smoky note surprised me. I like it.

A relatively "low voice" high quality malt without any specific feature which I would be able to recognize later. A bit worrying spicy character in the taste and finish. Hopefully it comes from the european oak, and not from the spirit itself. I had not the most pleasant experience with such harshness in other Wolfburn releases before, but this one is already a small improvement.

Wonderfully fruity, very typical Wolfburn nose. However, the 12 years are definitely noticeable. Everything seems more concentrated. The taste is simply great. The bourbon casks carry that Wolfburn fruitiness. The sherry casks add an extra kick of depth and spice. The finish is medium long and very satisfying. All in all, a great Wolfburn and definitely one of the best single malts for the money. Great price-performance ratio.

A 5cl sample was tasted.

Blog on www.longpouramour.com on 11 August 2025. My conclusion: "Certainly one of the more unique flavour and character profiles out there. Wolfburn is amplifying the highland soul with the new instalment of the age stated releases. I hope they do a release every two years, provided they have set aside enough stock to keep that up till, let’s say, a 21 years old? I love the progress, it is fierce."

Wolfburn is one of the distilleries I find more challenging; I haven't quite found the right affinity for its flavor profile yet. I actually regret this, because I'm a fan of northern Scotland and, for that reason alone, I'd like to appreciate the distillery in Thurso. I usually find their bottlings too young and immature. I was particularly disappointed with the 10-year-old, which I – like many fans, I'm sure – had been eagerly awaiting. Now, the first 12-year-old is available as a regular bottling, and naturally, I'm curious. It matured in equal parts in second-fill Oloroso hogsheads and ex-bourbon casks, but overall, it's rather pale. glen-efze.de

Tried 09/25 in Beinwil. Delicious drops.

very sharp, bitter and harsh

I've had much better Wolfburns, what a pity!