Wolfcraig’s triple sherry statement
Master Blender Ian Macmillan (left) with Richard ‘The Nose’ Paterson (right) creators of Wolfcraig’s 14-Year-Old Blend
Richard ‘The Nose’ Paterson OBE unveils Wolfcraig’s 14-Year-Old Blend Second Edition, the first in a new Triple Sherry Cask Finish series, an indulgent whisky of balance, depth and intrigue, writes Tom Pattinson
Wolfcraig’s latest release arrives wrapped in the kind of anticipation only Richard Paterson can generate. The man known universally as ‘The Nose’ has spent more than half a century refining Scotch, earning a reputation for flamboyant tastings, rigorous standards, and a genius for balance. Now, alongside fellow Master Blender Ian Macmillan, he turns his attention to Wolfcraig’s second edition of the 14-Year-Old Deluxe Blend, the first instalment in their new Triple Sherry Cask Finish series.
It’s a mouthful on paper – triple cask, limited edition, 50/50 malt to grain ratio – but in the glass it’s even more layered, indulgent and full of stories. At £95 a bottle, and with only 4,500 produced, it positions itself as an accessible luxury – premium, yes, but pitched at a level where curiosity is rewarded rather than priced out.
The headline feature here is the sherry cask finish. Paterson himself travelled to Bodega San Andrés in Jerez de la Frontera, Spain, where he personally selected the casks that would underpin the series. These weren’t just any casks. Each had been seasoned with sherry for 15 years, long enough for the oak to be thoroughly steeped in the deep, nutty sweetness of the wines they once held. The chosen trio – Amontillado, Pedro Ximénez and Muscatel – reads like a sherry lover’s dream. Each brings a distinct influence: the nuttiness and dryness of Amontillado, the dense treacle sweetness of PX, the floral lift of Muscatel. Dividing the blend between these casks, then allowing a further three years of maturation, gave Paterson and Macmillan a palette as rich as it was complex.
At £95 a bottle, and with only 4,500 produced, it positions itself as an accessible luxury
“The result is a spirit of genuine character and distinction,” says Paterson. “Filled with layers of sun-kissed raisins, Madagascan vanilla, rich gingerbread, and a lingering finish of figs and chocolate.”
What sets Wolfcraig’s blends apart is their notably high malt content. Where many blends lean heavily on grain, this release stakes its reputation on a 50/50 split, drawn from distilleries Paterson and Macmillan have worked with throughout their careers. It makes for a whisky that carries the richness and complexity of a single malt while keeping the accessibility and approachability of a blend.
Colour-wise, the whisky is a burnished mahogany with flashes of copper – a nod to the sherry influence before you’ve even raised the glass. The nose lives up to Paterson’s typically exuberant tasting notes: “An aromatic avalanche of pleasure… chewy caramel, crushed almonds, sultanas and Christmas cake, giving way to bitter chocolate, Seville marmalade and liquorice.”
On the palate, it’s indulgent from the off. There’s a wave of frangipane, vanilla pod and prune syrup, swiftly followed by gingerbread warmth, Madeira cake, and praline. The sweetness is rich but never cloying, reined in by a subtle spiced edge and a whiff of XO Cognac. The finish is long, rolling through raisins, figs and a dusting of nutmeg. It’s a whisky that evolves across a dram, shifting gear rather than fading out. You find yourself lingering, nose back in the glass, checking whether that flash of marzipan or chocolate mousse was imagined or actually there. That’s the hallmark of a carefully constructed whisky: not just flavour, but intrigue.
Richard ‘The Nose’ Paterson remains one of the most revered figures in whisky
Paterson’s fingerprints are everywhere. The showmanship that has earned him countless awards – the Icon of Whisky Lifetime Achievement Award, induction into the Whisky Hall of Fame, the Spirit of Scotland trophy – is matched here by patience and precision. Wolfcraig as a brand is still young, founded only in 2020, but in Paterson and Macmillan it has two of the most experienced noses in Scotch whisky. Their combined century of blending experience brings continuity to a sector where innovation can sometimes be an excuse for gimmickry. Here, tradition and modernity meet in a glass that feels considered rather than contrived.
The Wolfcraig 14-Year-Old Blend Second Edition is not a whisky you simply drink – it’s one you experience in layers. For sherry cask devotees, it offers an education in the diversity of cask finishing. For blend sceptics, it’s a compelling argument that high-malt blends can hold their own against the most pedigreed of single malts. And for collectors, its limited run of 4,401 bottles and accessible price point make it an attractive proposition. Most importantly, it’s delicious. Balanced but bold, rich but not overwhelming, it leaves you with the sense of having been guided – by Paterson’s hand – through a masterclass in sherry’s influence on Scotch.
“Our goal was to create a whisky of balance, depth and complexity… a spirit of genuine character and distinction,” says Paterson. That ambition is realised here. This isn’t just another release; it’s a benchmark for Wolfcraig, a statement of intent, and a reminder of why Richard ‘The Nose’ Paterson remains one of the most revered figures in whisky.
For £95, it feels like a whisky that’s both within reach and above expectation – a rare combination.
Wolfcraig 14 Year Old Blend Second Edition is available for £95
Wolfcraig 14-Year-Old Blend First Edition is available for £95
