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I do know each expression from The Glenlivet blind.
The basic 12 is lighter and extra apple-juicy than the Founder’s Reserve, which has changed the 12 on cabinets internationally. I just like the Founder’s extra. Moreover, I just like the 18 greater than the 21. Despite the fact that drammers within the know swoon over the 15 French Oak, and regardless that I’m all the time blissful to see it in somebody’s assortment, I can’t say it places the wind in my kazoo.
I’ve had the 25 a couple of occasions and discover it skinny, however very aromatic. In a phrase: underwhelming, which is a horrible factor to say in regards to the aged. The distinction in The Glenlivet’s (TGL from right here on) dram hues are just like these in tanning salons, the gradients starting from sun-kissed to darkish bronze, and their course of is comparable too! (photographs fired)
The noses are totally different, with the core vary being very simple to tell apart. TGL’s Nadurra vary is even simpler to distinguish blind, due to the upper proof. The Nadurras are all NCF and cask energy, just like the cool child scotches, and I suppose TGL needed to take part. Nadurra actually means “pure” in Gaelic, which is okay, albeit on this planet of promoting it’s the final nothingburger. “All pure,” or worse, “100% pure,” are cheerful phrases that imply fuck-all. There isn’t any set definition for what constitutes “100% pure” and you possibly can legally promote the faucet water in Flint, Michigan as such. Lead is natural, so what? “The all-new Yamaha snowmobile! Made with actual fruit juice!” makes about as a lot sense.
Did The Glenlivet must faux to be bespoke and uncooked? Did it work? Is it making them tons of cash? TGL actually was “the one malt that began all of them.” It was supposedly the earliest licensed distillery, and a royalty favourite again within the day, to make sure it’s an ironclad staple in the present day. I say “supposedly,” as a result of there’s an ongoing debate over which distillery really acquired its license first. I feel it was George Smith, honest and sq.. George Smith made his cash the old school method, he acquired it from his dad. He may afford the license and the following taxes. The Glenlivet’s location was tucked away, and we now have report of it being quaint and enchanting to a gracious visiting King George.
The identify, the legality, the means, all of the copycats and the next lawsuits is the rationale it stays the primary greatest vendor to at the present time. Macallan and The Glenfiddich are all the time on one another’s tails, the leaderboard all the time modifications, however TGL has probably the most model recognition. Let’s face it, TGL is a Mickey Mouse model and you may’t be each a Mickey Mouse model and a cool child model. The highest 3 Mickey Mouse manufacturers have turned off the whiskyphiles to the purpose of alienation. I nearly by no means see the highest 3 giants being favorably reviewed by individuals within the business I respect, and I not often see them talked about on the cool Instagram accounts. Outdated and costly Macallan is usually boasted by not as cool accounts (battle me) the accounts the place they brag about getting to carry a bottle, in order that they submit a contrived pic and tag away, drunk on Macallan clout with out ever opening the bottle’s seal.
TGL often pops up in one in all three eventualities: a deal with on the deluxe tour of the particular distilleries, particular pattern bottles procured from Model Ambassadors and different fortunate individuals who know individuals, and in rich males’s non-public collections. For the report, the house owners of stated collections are typically males who don’t actually know in the event that they like what they drink; they vaguely acknowledge the identify and the bottle is simply fascinating to them as a result of it’s over a grand.
The Glenlivet, in an effort, I suppose, to… broaden its horizons?… put out the Nadurra vary in 2014, roughly. That’s after I bear in mind first seeing them within the US, a minimum of. I’m not loopy about them, however I’m glad they exist, just like the present Trendy Household or The Jason Bourne motion pictures. The Nadurra Oloroso was the primary expression from TGL to be totally matured in sherry casks, so it’s a fabulous Christmasy dram, excellent for Grandpa.
The Nadurra First Fill is made with not re-used bourbon barrels, however first fill American white oak barrels. The Nadurra First Fill is a strongly vanilla, candy, and sparkly banana, very a lot a bourbon-y Scotch. Probably the most bourbon-y Scotches I’ve had, simply off the cuff from reminiscence, are the Auchentoshan American Oak, and The Glenrothes Classic 1995 American Oak. I often don’t like them, however I do like TGL FF.
One other Nadurra they put out was the Nadurra Peated Cask. Once more, on the time, I assumed it was foolish. I help innovation, however this wasn’t actually innovating. This was copycating. They took probably the most recognizable taste profile, or observe, peat, and completed the spirit in barrels from probably the most recognizable peaty whisky on Earth, Laphroaig. It appeared like they had been attempting to pander to peat heads.
I favored TGL Peated Cask simply fantastic, however finally I’m simply not enthusiastic about a Scotch made on a world scale, matured in anything than what it’s identified for. If I sense a model attempting to leap on a development, or seem zany, like The Glenlivet is doing proper now with their new vibrant roma tomato purple containers and the copy, “selectively matured in Caribbean Rum Barrels.” And solely 90 years after The Balvenie shattered the mildew for alt finishes with their Caribbean Cask? Bravo! Spray tan me within the shade of Unimpressed.
The final Nadurra they made had a brief life. They stopped making The Nadurra 16 in 2014. Even earlier than I knew they had been 86-ing it, it was my favourite TGL. Not as a result of it had an age assertion, not as a result of it had no chill filtration, or had by no means been pigmented, however due to the superb style!
In my view, it’s the most effective factor TGL ever put out. As I stated, I’ve had the 25 a couple of occasions, and it’s good. It jogs my memory of Johnnie Walker Blue. It’s cozy and chocolatey, however I’m not intrigued. The Nadurra 16 is intriguing. It’s a wild card, you couldn’t even start to guess what it’s. You possibly can nonetheless discover Nadurra 16 dusties throughout LA. I even instructed a good friend she may most likely discover it in Denver, and he or she did, after making simply two telephone calls!
Folks ask my recommendation on what whisky to purchase on a regular basis, household, mates, strangers on the web, and it’s all the time an pleasant job for me. If you wish to purchase a gift to impress somebody, and also you aren’t positive their taste preferences, Nadurra 16 is the proper bottle. It’s acquainted, it’s offbeat, and the notes are basic but curious. Even the cool youngsters who assume they know TGL and declare to not be riveted by any of their core expressions are all the time seduced after I pour them a Nadurra 16.
I all the time maintain three bottles in my cupboard. It’s goofy, however I do. One for sharing, VIPs solely, one for backup, and one for by no means opening. I’ve to watch out, although; the final time I opened a backup was for somebody I actually needed to impress. Then the cork crumbled into the bottle. Ought to that ever occur to you, my recommendation is to faux that was precisely what you meant to occur and shout, “Excellent!”
Please have in mind, these scores are graded on a TGL scale. It has change into a little bit of a mouthwash model in these late levels of capitalism. However I’ve nothing however love for what stays of the Nadurra 16.
Glenlivet The Nadurra Aged 16 Years – Assessment
On the nostril: Menthol, juicy citrus, freshly mowed grass. Vanilla wafers, barely piney, gosh, possibly somewhat Palo Santo? One thing that jogs my memory of a farm, tall grass, fertilizer. Bean sprouts. The earth and citrus notes a distinguished, and with snap. There’s additionally some synthetic sweet, just like the cloud of steam you possibly can’t escape outdoors the airport, from all these idiots furiously vaping.
Within the mouth: Like a milky menthol cigarette, a Newport! There’s a creamy coating mouthfeel. Outdated dried honey. Herbaceous; basil, mint. Lemon pepper. It makes me salivate and deserves somewhat water, then comes the friendlier Bit-O-Honey and lime rind.
Conclusions:
Extra complicated and spherical than most TGLs. An extended end, a burn that dissipates into earthy geraniums. The sherry influences are faint, zero of the classical sherry notes right here. The bourbon influences are solely within the astringent edges. It’s shy in that it refuses to disclose something that you just would possibly pinpoint to a selected model, area, or maturation components. However sensorily it isn’t a shy dram, it’s robust on the nostril and assaults your mouth, high of your tongue, gums, throat and esophagus. I really like the next energy whisky that exhibits me who’s boss. Principally, I really like a whisky that tips you.
Rating: 5/10
Bottle picture courtesy of The Whisky Alternate.
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