Glenlivet Nàdurra Cask Strength Peated Whisky Cask Finish Batch No. PW1016, 62.0% abv.

Nàdurra translates to "natural" in Gaelic and is the brand name to Glenlivet's new product line. I am tasting the peated version here, which was matured in first fill ex-Bourbon barrels and then finished in barrels that held Speyside peated whisky for 3 to 36 months. This is supposedly the first time Glenlivet has released a peat or peat influenced whisky.

Nose: peat and smoke. At a distance I smell fruits, mostly red and gold apples. With time there is still peat smoke, but honey wood appears.
Palate: really sour peat, pretty intense. Wood and the typical earthy tobacco shows up.
Finish: moderate, spice, wood lasts awhile.

Really, really intense sharp and sour peat notes make it a little unenjoyable, but the quality is there. For some reason it feels like it belongs to the Octomore range. Hard to appreciate it at my age. I'll have to revisit this one when my palate has become stronger... or maybe I should've added some water.

Grade: B-

Whiskyanalysis.com, 8.77 ± 0.25 on 4 reviews
thewhiskeywash.com, Tish Lester, 89 points
2016 Ultimate Spirits Competition, 96 points

Image courtesy of Eric Yee.

Eric Yee

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