The Glenlivet Nadurra 16 YO 8013Y

Glenlivet Nadurra is a “natural” dram, so simple, straight forward and refreshing that you just want to hug the Whisky-master who came up with the idea.

George Smith was running an illegal still on the estate of the Duke of Gordon in the wee early 1800’s. The good old Duke ... ahem ... may or may not have been aware of the illicit operation in exchange for a personal supply. When the Duke helped sponsor legislation in 1823 that made Whisky distilling legal in the UK, it just so happens that George Smith was the first one granted a license. Now legal and above board, he naturally named his “new” business after the local parish—Glenlivet. Today Glenlivet is one of the “Big Three” single malt producers, being #1 in the United States and #2 worldwide. Their Whiskys are officially “Speyside,” meaning that they are Highland malts produced along the river Spey, and the water for the Whisky mash comes somewhat famously from “Josie’s Well.” Glenlivet produces Whiskies in a variety of ages and wood-matured combinations, and the remaining spirit not bottle as part of their Glenlivet lineup is considered an indispensable component in some of the most famous blends.

In Gaelic, Nadurra means “natural,” but NOT in a new-age hippy-dippy politically-correct organic free-range kind of way. Some wonderful Whisky master at Glelivet said, “Hey, why don’t we just make a nicely aged, clean, pure Whisky without fancy used casks or flavoring.” Whoever that guy was, I want to shake his hand.

Glenlivet Nadurra is the classic single-malt, small batch, aged 16 years in first-fill American Oak, and bottled at cask strength. Where’s the double-wood and special marketing spin on this one? There isn’t any, and if you love fine single-malt Scotch, you have been waiting for something that tastes just like this. Boom, that’s it, pour yourself a dram and breathe it in lad. Not sure you are ready for the 56.10% ABV of this cask strength nectar? Give us a call when you grow up a bit. Better still, no harm in giving it a splash of water or a single ice cube, in fact that will open up some of the pear and raspberries notes.

SmartAss Corner:
Did you know that The Glenlivet casks are stored all over Scotland to preserve stocks in case of a fire?