Glenlivet Nadurra First Fill Cask Strength Single Malt Scotch Whisky (700ml)

"Now that is what I call a whisky." 95.5 points - Jim Murray's Whisky Bible 2016

Readers may remember the high standard set by the original 16-year-old Glenlivet Nadurra, discontinued around 2015 due to shortages of older maturing stock. It was replaced by a range of no-age-statement (NAS) cask-strength bottlings including Oloroso Matured, Peated Cask Finish and this First Fill American Oak expression. Thankfully, the follow-ons maintained the quality of the original. In particular, if you enjoyed Nadurra 16YO, you can be pretty confident here as the wood regime is the same. Matured entirely in x-Bourbon casks, 'First Fill' typifies the distillery's style offering up deep scents of poached pear and ripe green apple over beeswax and vanilla. The orchard fruit theme continues in the second pass adding milk chocolate, orange cake, light pepper and clove. A precocious sniff! The palate builds with flavours of honey, vanilla and tea biscuits; quite spicy and concentrated, thinning out momentarily before a stewed pear sweetness almost breaks through the spicy oak, carrying the aftertaste in rebounds. A little water helps it along but it's fine to drink uncut. As one of the more engaging Glenlivets of recent years, this release serves as a reminder that NAS whisky isn't necessarily retrograde. 59.1% Alc./Vol. Non chill filtered. Batch FF0117 tasted.

Other reviews... mmm...a sumptuously rich delivery, and though the oils are healthy there is never a threat to the complexity....Red liquorice and treacle pudding fills the mid-ground; walnut oil subtly adds a further oaky presence....a long interweaving between the oak and the barley, although it is the malt which fades faster.... now that is what I call a whisky. 95.5 points - Jim Murray's Whisky Bible 2016