The Glenlivet 18 Year Old Nàdurra Triumph 0310B (bottled ) Single Malt Scotch Whisky, 48%

Nadurra = natural in Gaelic. Non-chill filtered. Grain : rare Triumph barley. Nose : elegant, ripe pears, tangerines, honey, caramel. Palate : smooth, blood-red oranges, crème brûlée, dry finish with notes of licorice.

This is excellent. I was not so impressed by the 16 yo Nadurra, which I found too austere, but it seems that the extra 2 years in the barrel or the barley varietal used, adds a lot more complexity. Grassy, with a nice hint of mint at first, which quickly dissipates, dried fruits, orange zest and a whiff of smoke. While some reviewers display disappointment at the lower ABV (i.e. not cask-strength), I do not consider this a drawback, since …