Glenlivet Nàdurra First Fill Selection

Vanilla, butterscotch and bananas on the nose. Shortbread, applesauce and touch of citrus on the palate. The finish is long, warm and pleasantly spiced. Great mouthful, balance and surprisingly smooth for a 60.4% ABV bottling.

Tried this one at a restaurant last night (a $23 pour, thank the Lord my miserly self had gotten a Groupon with a 70% discount). Having it made me long for the days when there was a 16-year version--now that I would have liked to experience. This bottle was disappointing, and if I had to guess, I'd say there's a lot of scotch mixed in here that hasn't even hit double digits in age now. The palate and nose both felt quite closed off to me, disclosing few distinct notes other than a bright, confectioner's sugar. After a few sips I finally hit the distillery's signature apple note, which made me feel like I'd finally arrived at the house of Glenlivet--albeit after an unremarkable journey. There is a lot of burn--not quite a pleasant warming heat, really more of a burn--on the back end, although it does resolve to some spice notes that are a little bit reminiscent of Balvenie Caribbean Cask (but harsher here). The strange thing about the finish is it felt like the finish from a younger bourbon, hollowed out of some of bourbon's pleasant caramel and oak richness. This one's worth trying, and it's not a bad scotch by any means, but it did not suit my palate.