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Glenlivet 16yo Nadurra (57.6%, OB, Batch# 0808F, +/-2008)

Glenlivet has listened to its customers and brought out a non-chillfiltered batch series ‘restricted release’ 16 year old Glenlivet that ‘faithfully captures the Original distillery character’. Some lessons learned from the runaway success of the Aberlour a’bunadh batch series? Good for them. The nose is at first fragrant and mildly perfumed with roses, heather, mild juniper and pineapple (think fresh warm pineapple and not the sickly sweet stuff from a tin). The stronger aromas are of sweet vanilla, banana bread, oak, alcohol and malt. After a few minutes the aromas open up to reveal Demerara sugar and vanilla. With water the alcohol diminishes and is much more reminiscent of the Glenlivet 12yo along with some rich fruit, cold tea, oak and rich malt. The taste neat is quite strong and of fruit and mild tobacco at first but then quite sweet. Also malt, vanilla and something that resembles gentle smoke. Perhaps a mirage? Excellent. With water it’s much sweeter with a good mixture of the malt and the fruit with back from the mild leather/tobacco duo. The finish is sweet malt with a hint of aspartame and gentle oak, the fruit and oak are the dominant flavours. Very well balanced. Some later delivery of cocoa and coffee which is brilliant. Mildly dry and spicy.

What a great dram, well done!

C$88

Score 87 and well deserved.