Glenlivet Nàdurra Peated Whisky Cask Finish

Stop number 19 on the list is Glenlivet. This distillery is located in the Speyside area and holds the title of the world's top-selling single malt scotch brand. This particular bottling is from the Nadurra (meaning 'Natural' in Gaelic) collection. It's a no-age-statement expression that was finished in barrels previously holding "heavily peated whisky." The origin of these casks and the duration of their use in the finishing process are unknown. As it's "natural," this is a cask strength whisky at 61.5% ABV, it is non chill filtered and possesses a natural color resembling Chardonnay or a golden straw hue. The aroma presents a rather potent alcoholic sting if you inhale too deeply, but it's not too bad considering the ABV. Large citrus notes are present, primarily lemons and oranges. Baked apple with cinnamon, along with subtle peaches and apricots emerge after the citrus. A very faint earthy note appeared after a few minutes, possibly peat? Vanilla buttercream and something akin to brown sugar-dusted raisins follow. Adding water introduces a malty character and a very distant tequila scent. Lemon notes become stronger. It's better enjoyed without water though. The palate hits with heat and pepper, but it's manageable. Soft peat smoke is noticeable upon swallowing. A bright burst of citrus. A light oaky character and buttercream are present. With a little water, I detect some light exotic fruits like kiwi or perhaps mango and coconut. The high ABV makes it difficult to distinguish many flavors, and there aren't a great number of them. It is nicely warming though. The mouthfeel is very oily with some heat. It's mouthwatering, transitioning to semi-dry. The finish is medium in length with some heat, light peat, and some citrus. This bottle has been quite perplexing so far. Upon first opening, it was very easy to smell and drink. Warm and inviting. After pouring out 8 oz worth of samples and letting it sit for a week, I revisited it. Perhaps it was just my perception that day, but it made my nose and mouth feel like they were on fire! It was almost undrinkable without a significant amount of water. Letting it rest for another 3 weeks allowed it to settle down. It's a decent whisky, but I believe it truly NEEDS to be at cask strength, or at least 55%. Anything less, and I think it would lose its character. I do like it though. It has good citrus flavors and enough peat to confirm its presence, not just meaningless words on the label. I don't feel it justifies the price tag though. $90 locally is a bit steep for what's inside the bottle, even at cask strength. 3.75 to 4 stars.

This was a rare find. It wasn't even on my radar when it was released. Fortunately, I found it in a small shop in NYC. That specific expression was one of the best whiskies I've ever had. I felt it represented the peak of the distillery's potential. Let's see if lightning strikes twice within this product line. From Batch PW1015. Nose: Apple, pear, banana, and toffee. Vegetal, earthy peat. Sulfur, rubber, and some smoke. Agave and cucumber. Chestnut. Croissant. Vanilla and custard. Lemon and grapefruit. Peppermint. Oak. Cinnamon and pepper initially provide some heat, though this quickly fades. A good start. Palate: Caramel and toffee. Chestnut, Apple, pear, apricot, plum, cranberry, and banana. White chocolate, vanilla frosting, and marshmallow. Rubbery, smoky peat. Lemon and grapefruit. Black pepper, baking spice, and oak. A solid palate. Finish: The chestnut and croissant notes hit right away. Apple, plum, and raisin. Something similar to Irish soda bread. Cinnamon, black pepper, baking spices, and oak. A fantastic finish. Of the two, the 16 year expression is superior to this peated version. Does that mean lightning didn't strike twice? You decide. Regardless, I genuinely enjoyed this one on its own merits. It's not a traditional Speyside-peated malt (as if that were traditional). Another brand has done that better. But I consider those to be top-notch, so it's no criticism of this one, which closely follows those releases. At $66, this is a solid value. Considering the rarity of the product, this is an unbelievable value. Add in the quality, and you've got yourself a good deal. If you're a devoted fan of this brand, buy this immediately. If you're a peat enthusiast looking to broaden your selection, I would also recommend this to you. If you can find it. I'm glad I did. 4/5.

I saved this sample from an exciting distillery tour, provided by a friend, as one of my final selections for this second round. I've tried a few of the Nadurra offerings and considered them the best in the Glenlivet range. I had high expectations for the peated cask version. This malt is exceptionally pale, similar to an ice-cold Coors Light. Due to its high ABV (61.5%), it leaves numerous slick, long legs in the glass when swirled. Even from a distance, you can detect oak barrel and sweet citrus notes. One of the sample's highlights, after about 25 minutes, was detecting what I believe was agave nectar, very tequila-like. It was potent and inviting. Unfortunately, no agave on the palate. Just an initial intense heat and an incredible burn. This spirit is very potent. If you can manage the heat without exhaling through your nose, a pleasant, crisp citrus fruit like oranges and lemons emerges, finishing with a sizzle on the taste buds. Hot, yet refreshing. It fades quickly, leaving a dry, oak spice residue in the back of your mouth. The finish is again short, but intensely hot. It felt like I had scorched the nerve endings in my mouth, but that sensation subsided, and a dry earthiness (peat?) completed the experience. If you're familiar with Nadurra whiskies, you know what to expect, and this one is no different. Good quality. While I don't believe there's enough peat flavor to justify revisiting ex-peated casks, the overall quality of the Nadurra line remains evident, making for a very fine whisky. Thanks again to the friend who found this in a duty-free shop near him; I wouldn't have been able to try it otherwise. 4.25-4.5 stars. Cheers.

My first single malt was The Glenlivet 12, and it opened up a whole new world of scotch to me. This brand holds a special place in my heart for scotch. I have been somewhat pleasantly surprised by the Nadurra line. Of course, I enjoy a peated whisky and was curious to try this, and I was able to do so thanks to the sample provided by a friend in the SDT. The nose definitely reveals the peated origins of the whisky with a mild and sweet smoke. Granny Smith apples, honey, and vanilla notes, almost the standard Glenlivet base, are mixed in with the smokiness. That first sip brings a sharp, prickly heat due to the 61.5% ABV. Once you get past the initial intensity, the peat/smoke comes to the surface, which is neither too strong nor too weak but strikes a nice balance. A creamy brown sugar sweetness is well-blended, complementing the smokiness. As it starts to fade, a cinnamon and ginger spice is revealed and becomes increasingly intense right into the finish. What remains only lasts for a short time. The palate is left with toasted coconut and oak, a touch of bitterness, and some hints of ginger and cinnamon. Adding a generous amount of water is definitely necessary to diminish the intense heat from the ABV. The water enhances the brown sugar and ginger-cinnamon combination, along with the woody characteristics. This is a nice, sweet, spicy scotch that uses peat smoke as a supporting player. It's present but plays a secondary role in the overall experience. Use water liberally, and it only improves. The $90 price tag for this whisky makes it prohibitively expensive, considering one can enjoy the tried and true standards or Ardbeg, Laphroaig, or Lagavulin for almost half the cost. [86/100] [Tasted: 9/23/17]

Batch #PW1015 For some reason, I previously believed Nadurra was a single whiskey, not a line of cask strength products from Glenlivet. The last one I had was aged in American oak, so I'm hopeful this one will have peat notes. The color is indeed a pale gold, dark straw shade. The aroma has a strong burn, but also carries notes of honey, cereal, raw grain, and just a hint of smoke. The body is more accessible than I anticipated, though the proof quickly registers on the palate. A honey flavor is present, but the high proof elevates it to an almost spicy level. The peat flavors come through, but there's no sensation of peat in the pores like a genuinely peated whiskey provides. The finish is still approachable (provided you can get past the central mouth burn from the heat) with a bit of sweet grain and light smoke. This might be the only whiskey I've ever encountered that has actually numbed the front of my tongue and upper gums. The flavors are still discernible elsewhere in the mouth, but there's definitely something missing from the numbness in those specific oral areas. Overall, this is a highly enjoyable whiskey, but it doesn't stand out enough as being "heavily peated" and could benefit from a flavor enhancer (like age, a fresh barrel, a specific malt, etc.) that isn't apparent in this glass.

I recall purchasing the Oloroso version of this some time back. Still recall the exchange with the shop employee: Me: What is Nadurra? Employee: means "all natural" Me: oh, so it is made organically? Employee: No, just natural Me: like only locally sourced ingredients? Employee: no, just no added color or chill filtration, and without water dilution Me: in other words, cask strength, non-chill filtered, and no chill filtration? Employee: yes..so all natural I'm not sure why that required creating Nadurra as all natural, but whatever...it's still a good whisky. This is the peated version. Personally, I did not find it as good as the Oloroso, but it's still an excellent dram. Considering the high alcohol content, it's surprisingly smooth. Many thanks to a friend for this sample round!