[WHISKY TASTING] Let's Try a Batch of The Glenlivet Nàdurra 🥃
Nàdurra means natural in Scottish Gaelic and the whisky we'll be tasting today has been given that name since it's produced according to methods used in the 1800s, in the childhood of the Glenlivet distillery. The whisky is (usually) bottled at cask strength without being chill-filtered or artificially colored. The various batches can differ quite a lot, each with their own unique character, and to reflect these natural cask variations each bottle is marked with a batch number.
This particular batch was matured on American white oak, a wood type that typically produces bright and sweet flavors of vanilla. I've tried two batches before, around 2006-2007, and they were both bottled at cask strength in odd numbers well above 50%. The same goes for all other batches I've seen. This batch was however bottled at an even 48.0% (watered down), which makes me a bit suspicious. Maybe it was a substandard travel-retail version for unsuspecting travelers. If you want to know more about the Glenlivet distillery I refer you to my article on the Glenlivet 18.
Glenlivet Nàdurra 16 Year Old
ABV: 48%
Age: 16yo
Region: Speyside
Cask type: First-Fill American Oak
Batch: 0613F
Bottled: 2013
Price: Around 50 USD / 1L
Un-chill filtered & Natural color
Color: Light gold.
Nose: Vanilla, coconut, apple and ginger.
Palate: The first thing that hits me is bitterness. Like biting into the peel of an orange almost. Or a really bitter orange marmalade. There is also the classic apple character of Glenlivet. Candied apples. Or stewed apples with caramel sauce. Turns more sweet with a few drops of water. There are also plenty of cereal and barley aromas, akin to having finished a lager beer. White pepper, mint and harsh ginger takes you into the finish. This baby has pulled out quite a lot of spiciness from the oak staves during its 16 years on cask.
Finish: Medium-long with warming alcohol, spiciness and orange bitterness. Perhaps some hazelnut as well.
Conclusion: Good, but a tad one dimensional. Resembling the 18 yo in terms of the apple profile, but harsher and more spicy. The previous batches I had were oh so much more impressive. Go for the 0.7 liter bottles at cask strength if you're curious about the Nàdurra. 83 out of 100 points.
