Glen Wyvis 2018 Oloroso Cask Review

Introduction I was drawn to this bottle of Glen Wyvis 2018 because I’ve been following the distillery’s progress since they began releasing their first single malts. As one of the newer names in Scottish whisky and a community-owned project, they're building everything from the ground up. This specific release, matured in an Oloroso sherry hogshead (cask #243), caught my interest because I wanted to see how their young spirit behaves under the influence of assertive sherry wood. I expected a bold dram with some of the rougher edges you’d typically find in younger whiskies, but hopefully balanced by the richness of the Oloroso. Nose On first nosing, the sherry influence hits immediately. There's a dry, nutty character, with notes of almonds and a bit of burnt caramel. Behind that, I picked up dates, prunes, and a gentle trace of orange peel. There's some youthful sharpness as well—a little raw barley and a suggestion of copper or fresh sawdust. It’s not overly complex, but there’s a directness to it that I appreciated. The alcohol feels present but not overpowering. Palate Straight away, it’s clear this whisky packs intensity. The sherry cask really drives the flavour, bringing in dark fruit – raisins, figs, and a touch of black cherry. The spirit's youth shows up again with some hot edges, but it carries enough presence to avoid feeling thin. Mid-palate, there’s a flash of oak spice and clove. I even picked up something slightly sulphury—not unpleasant, more like struck match, which added a bit of intrigue. The richness from the Oloroso is the main act here, and the cask hasn’t overwhelmed the spirit entirely, which is a good sign. Finish The finish is on the dry side, medium in length, and led by wood tannins and bitter cocoa. A bit of leather sneaks in toward the end, along with a final wave of warming spice. There’s a youthful tang that lingers, reminding you that this is a whisky still finding its footing. Still, it doesn’t collapse or vanish; it hangs in there with enough structure to leave a decent impression. Price and Value For a distillery still establishing its core range and reputation, Glen Wyvis pricing tends to be fair. This single cask release wasn’t cheap, likely due to the Oloroso influence and limited nature of the bottling, but I found the price reasonable given the cask strength and single cask status. You’re paying for uniqueness and the transparency of small-batch whisky, though I’d recommend it more for enthusiasts than everyday drinkers. Background Glen Wyvis is located just outside Dingwall in the Highlands, and it's Scotland’s first 100% community-owned distillery. Their approach combines modern sustainability with traditional methods, and they’re crafting whisky solely from Scottish barley and using 100% green energy. As a young distillery that began distilling in 2017, any bottlings available now are still early glimpses of their maturing house style. This particular release was distilled in 2018 and drawn from a single Oloroso sherry hogshead in 2023. Bottled at cask strength—over 60% ABV—it’s unchillfiltered and natural in colour, embracing the raw characteristics of both the spirit and the cask. You can learn more about the distillery on the official Glen Wyvis website. Final Notes Would I buy another bottle? Probably not of this exact cask, but I wouldn’t hesitate to try future Glen Wyvis releases, especially as they gain more age. Is this one approachable for newcomers? Not really—with its high ABV and bold sherry dryness, it’s better suited for someone who’s already familiar with cask strength malts. That said, it's a good bottle to taste if you're curious about the direction Glen Wyvis is heading with sherry-matured expressions. I’d say the best time for this dram is after dinner, maybe paired with dark chocolate or a mild blue cheese. And how does it compare to other Highland single malts? It's more assertive in its youth, with sharper edges and more obvious cask influence than something older and more refined, but interesting to see how a new distillery puts its own mark on a traditional style. I’ll be watching Glen Wyvis closely as their whisky grows more mature.