Here are some of the latest releases from Cut Your Wolf Loose, the label from founder Seb Woolf. There are three single malts from Tomatin, Arran and Bruichladdich distillery, but we start with a Blended Malt.
This blend has been made up of two epic Speyside distilleries. We think we’ve picked up clues that point towards Balmenach and Glenglassaugh, but we could be wrong here. There’s also one highland distillery in the mix, along with an Islay malt, all whacked into an Oloroso sherry butt.
Blended Malt 6 yo 2017 (51,6%, Cut Your Wolf Loose 2023, Oloroso sherry butt, 333 btl.)
Nose: the peated component is quite obvious. There’s warm smoke with a coastal footprint. Some roasted tonka beans, sooty exhaust smoke and hints of seaweed. Creamy vanilla in the background, as well as some peaches.
Mouth: salty peat, with more smoked fruit alongside tarry notes and a slightly dirty hint. Deeply sooty in any case, could this be Staoisha or a more established name? Then some dark chocolate and hints of coffee, with soy sauce and some candied ginger.
Finish: medium length, with more chocolate coated nuts, black pepper
While still young, this already offers a lot. I’m not sure why they insist on adding three other distilleries since the Islay component outclasses them all. Overall close to a sherry finished Islay whisky with a more attractive price. Available from Cut Your Wolf Loose or retailers like TyndrumWhisky or Master of Malt for instance.
Arran 10 yo 2014 (58,6%, Cut Your Wolf Loose 2024, first fill bourbon barrel, 119 btl.)
Nose: it’s got that marzipan-like hint of a glue stick, with creamy porridge and hints of ripe gooseberries. Then some floral notes, maybe daffodils. Some coconut rum too, with a boozy touch of pineapple schnapps. It develops some raw, fresh wood shavings as well.
Mouth: still a bit rough around the edges, with that woody note, cider apples and a big dose of raw cereals. Grassy, lightly bitter hints come out, citrus zest and white pepper. Quite big. Then green fruits, unripe peaches and a hint of custard make it rounder again, especially after adding a drop of water.
Finish: quite long, minty and peppery, with sappy accents and white flowers.
Quite a punchy young Arran. I’m not sure this was the right age to bottle it, but it does show a lot of freshness and a few really interesting notes. Available from CYWL. Score: 84/100
Tomatin 7 yo 2016 (59,4%, Cut Your Wolf Loose 2024, refill hogshead, 262 btl.)
Nose: after a quick vegetal hint, it becomes fruitier. Green apples, floral honey, hints of mead and gooseberries. Then a freshly mown lawn and light vanilla. Strikes a nice balance.
Mouth: malty beer, with a big mashy side. Sweet lemons, some chalky touches, barks and white pepper. Orchard fruits with green bananas and grapefruit. A light yeasty note too, giving it a rather bulky profile.
Finish: not too long, still mashy, with a hint of latte and some earthy hints.
Very mashy, with a bulky side that I’m not very fond of. If you’re a beer lover though, this could be up your alley. Available from CYWL or Master of Malt for instance. Score: 81/100
Bruichladdich 14 yo 2008 (62%, Cut Your Wolf Loose 2023, first fill bourbon barrel, 234 btl.)
Nose: a pretty classic Laddie. Citrus notes with mineral oils, white pepper and gentle sea spray. Crushed sea shells. Then a seductive floral note, before it returns to sheep wool, wet rocks and plasters. Creamy and sharp at the same time.
Mouth: powerful, still showing this coastal edge, with wood spice and grapefruits, along with (burnt) peaches. Mid-palate it gets quite salty, with hints of liquorice and hay. White pepper and lanolin before it ends on citrus zests and floral notes, as well as some herbal bitters.
Finish: medium length, with more herbal drops, citrus and salt.
Nice one – more characterful than the ones before. The coastal salinity is a real asset here. Available from CYWL. Score: 88/100