The first time I had Glenlivet Nadurra was at my farewell party when I left my job at a search agency and despite being one of many drinks that evening I could distinctly remember liking it. The second time I sipped on some Nadurra I was at a friends house and we drank it from shot glasses (though we were not shooting it) while playing board games and again it stood out amongst the 5 or so we were sipping on that night too. I now finally have a bottle to call my own and am damn happy I do.
The Glenlivet Nadurra is a non-chill filtered, no color added, cask strength beast whose name is derived from the gaelic word for Natural. Which is completely appropriate because If you visited the distillery in Scotland and had a dram straight from a 16 year old ex-bourbon barrel this is basically what you would be getting. Though one important difference between sipping straight from the barrel and what’s in this bottle is that this is not a single cask. It’s more like the Wild Turkey Rare Breed in that they still blend a bunch of barrels together (the youngest being 16 years), but they don’t add any water to cut the proof in the final product. Hence it being cask strength.
Glenlivet Nadurra 16 Review
Batch:0512T
ABV: 54.3%
Price: $64
Non-chill filtered
Natural Color
Cask Strength
EYE
Honey
NOSE
Orchard fruit mixed with banana heavy tropical fruit, a sweet maltiness and some oak rise slowly, but with power. Some great notes of baking spices and toasted nuts appear after a few minutes and the oak became a bit stronger the longer it breathed and opened up.
TASTE
Upfront notes of caramel and vanilla mix with oak, citrus and malt. The fruitiness of the nose died down a bit on the palate, but it was still there and mixed well with the baking spices that showed up as it sat and opened up a bit.
BALANCE, BODY & FEEL
A nice delicate balance between the sweet and savory notes with the oak acting as a great earthy support. Full bodied and incredibly easy to drink without any dilution.
FINISH
Long and nutty with strong notes of caramel, citrus, malt and oak.
OVERALL
I really enjoyed this one and after a few minutes of breathing it began to really open up and began expressing more of the dessert and malt qualities. After about 10 minutes of the glass sitting in my hand it unfurled into a warm and lively whisky that was increadibly fun to drink even without any water, though a splash certainly does help.
SCORE: 91
Joshua, I’ve tried both the old 16yo and the newer NAS bottlings and frankly, the NAS just doesn’t measure up. It tastes like what it is – younger spirit. It isn’t bad, but the deep layers of flavors and aromas that Josh describes in his review are almost entirely absent; it’s just a different, simpler whisky. It would be a decent value if it were priced around $45 to $50.
I can say that I’ve enjoyed these releases a bit less each time I try them since this release 7 years ago, but I still like it. Though, 100% agree on the pricing. Cheers Paul!
Way late to the game here but I was curious if you had tried any of the Nadurra NAS line since this review? I tried the Peated Cask finish when I was at the distillery last year and remember really liking it but I was getting over a cold so my taste and smell faculties were not great. Thankfully, I was able to get a bottle since then but haven’t opened it yet due to trying to finish off some other open bottles I have. It would be great if you could find the time to review it at some point. I’d love to hear your thoughts.
I picked up two more of these a couple of weeks ago and really should go back for more. It’s a damn shame they are changing it as it is a reliably pleasant whisky and the only Glenlivet I’ll buy. I tried the new Oloriso HTH with it and it was way too young and spirity. I guess I won’t be buying any Glenlivet after the 16 is gone.
I haven’t tried the Oloroso one yet, but I’m interested. Will indeed be a shame to see the 16 go.
Thanks for this review, Josh. I’ve been leaning toward getting one of these and your review was the catalyst to picking one up. I’m looking forward to sharing it with some friends.
Always happy to help Abe!
This has been SUCH a great bottle! Thanks for posting the review that made me take the plunge, Josh.
Everyone, and I mean everyone, for whom I have poured sample has loved it. I can’t believe the 16 year expression is being discontinued…
Glad to hear you’re enjoying it Abe. I need to pick up the new one soon and see how it compares.
Cheers man!