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Glenlivet 16 Year Old Nadurra

Nadurra Strikes Again!

0 1184

@SquidgyAshReview by @SquidgyAsh

2nd May 2013

0

  • Nose
    22
  • Taste
    22
  • Finish
    21
  • Balance
    19
  • Overall
    84

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Distribution of ratings for this: brand user

Several months ago I purchased a bottle of Glenlivet Nadurra from the local Dan Murphy's. I'd been reading rave reviews about this cask strength whisky for months and finally decided to take the plunge.

It was a disappointment and a bottle that I struggled through, hoping all the while that it would just turn and I'd see the light and go "YES! THIS IS BRILLIANT!"

That never occurred.

So it was with some relief when I saw the last of that bottle that my wife, brother in law, sister in law and I had struggled through.

It was also with some excitement that I saw a sample of another batch of Nadurra had arrived in a recent whisky trade that I did with a friend of mine from Queensland, Systemdown.

This one sat at 54.2%abv and was from batch #11091.

After a long day at work when I arrived home I decided to crack open this sample and give it a shot.

Same color as the last Nadurra that I had.

A nose that is somewhat similar to the last Nadurra I had, definitely a Glenlivet, but better.

Honey, toffee, slightly floral, pears, apples, some slight spice, cinnamon I'd say.

Definitely not bad. There's something else yummy lingering under it all, but I can't pinpoint it.

Argh!

Similar Nadurra taste, floral, but not hugely so, honey, toffee, oak, green fruits, apples and pears again, pears more so then apples.

Definitely a big step over over my first Nadurra!

Long lingering finish with slight floral notes, pears, and honey.

Not a bad whisky!

Not the world's most complex whisky, as my brother in law described it quite one dimensional, but a whisky that gets better when it has time to breath.

This is what I was hoping to get when I purchased my first Nadurra! This is a whisky I wouldn't mind paying $110 or so for a bottle.

I'd like to thank Systemdown in Queensland for this sample, this sample has made me much more inclined to try the Nadurra again and has also made me very aware that on this whisky I'll have to check for which batch the bottle is from.

If you get a chance to try a Nadurra do so. I might not just buy a bottle blind, but if you see it at a bar, don't hesitate to give it a shot, you might enjoy it, you might not.

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11 comments

@GotOak91
GotOak91 commented

I don't mean to follow you around (because Im not I just like reading the new reviews that everyone writes)but I've been thinking about getting this bottle at my local shop too. I hope its a step up from the Glenlivet 12 but like you I've noticed complaints about batch irregularity too so that's why I've been hesitant but fortunately my gamble would be less around $52 USD.

10 years ago 0

@systemdown
systemdown commented

Glad you found this batch better than the first one you tried! I don't know that I'll pick up a newer Nadurra, I think I'd be taking a backwards step. Would gladly pick up another bottle of this batch, though.

10 years ago 0

@SquidgyAsh
SquidgyAsh commented

@GotOak91 Hahaha no worries buddy! Read away! I feel like I do that sometimes myself. You're sitting there going "I swear I'm not stalking you!" :D

@Systemdown Thanks for the sample! It was definitely a step up for me. I still don't think I'd pick up a bottle, but that's more on personal preference then on "it's not a good whisky" My last batch I just finished the bottle and I swear to god I REALLY tried to like it, but I just couldn't. Quick note don't let me forget to get you some more samples out before I leave!! I really don't want to forget it and I'm running around like a headless chicken right now! 11 days to go!

10 years ago 0

@valuewhisky
valuewhisky commented

Yo SquidgyAsh, I've had two different batches of this and have loved it each time, and generally I'm not very much into unpeated scotch. For some reason I took offense to your original review of Nadurra and couldn't understand why anyone would dislike it so much. I've been sleeping poorly ever since! (OK I'm exaggerating... You got me). Maybe you got a bad bottle - it does happen if rarely. Glad you got a good taste this time!

10 years ago 0

@SquidgyAsh
SquidgyAsh commented

@Valuewhisky Hahaha sorry to cause you sleepless nights due to my first Nadurra review! My apologies! It is indeed possible that I had a bad bottle as I don't think it's just a palate issue (considering that everyone who shared the bottle with me wound up agreeing) It was a VERY nasty shock for myself.

The big issues with the first bottle was it honestly boiled down to honeyed flowers and not much else going on. It's still the biggest reminder I have of it going through my head. I actually spent about 2 months trying to let the whisky open up to see if it needed time to breathe, tried adding water, etc and nothing I could do caused any improvements. :(

That being said after this sample I'd happily try another sample of a different batch of Nadurra, but I wouldn't purchase a bottle unless I could confirm which batch it was.

10 years ago 0

@Victor
Victor commented

@Ash and @Valuewhisky, also the freshness of the sample might be an issue. I had some I liked very much from a rather new bottle and then some from the same bottle after it had been open a few months longer and it was just not so great.

10 years ago 0

@SquidgyAsh
SquidgyAsh commented

@Victor totally agree with you on the freshness of the sample will influence the whisky, however sadly this bottle just started out boring and sadly stayed boring. I'd hoped that some oxidization would release some flavors or aromas hidden under all the flowers/honey, but over then a slight increase in toffee it sadly stayed pretty bland and sweet.

But it's definitely a point to remember!!

10 years ago 0

@valuewhisky
valuewhisky commented

Hi SquidgyAsh, following up from a while ago. I just had a glass of Nadurra at a bar this evening, which would represent my third bottle tried. This was a brand new bottle - I saw him open it. My first two experiences were great - tangy, pineapple, vanilla and cinnamon. However, this one was all honey and flowers. Bah! Now I know exactly where you're coming from! It was not pleasant. Reminded me of a cask-strength Glenmorangie 10... which is not a compliment from me.

10 years ago 0

@SquidgyAsh
SquidgyAsh commented

@Valuewhisky YES! I'm sorry for that unfortunate experience but that at least makes me think it wasn't just me! I was worried that I'd picked up a bad bottle or something. Really disappointing for my first cask strength Glenlivet. Kind of turned me off the distillery to be honest :(

10 years ago 0

@GBrough
GBrough commented

Glad to hear it improved for you, i got a bottle at Mt.Shasta city for 55 bucks i wish i bought the glenfiddich 15 but next time. Once my friend recovers from his surgery we are going to crack it open and sit back and enjoy.

10 years ago 0

@SquidgyAsh
SquidgyAsh commented

Hopefully you have a much better experience then I did on my first one my friend! I look forward to hearing about your experience!

10 years ago 0

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