Glenlivet Nadurra Peated 750ML

Glenlivet Nadurra Peated 750ML is a cask strength Speyside single malt Scotch whisky bottled at 61.5% ABV without chill-filtration. This expression marks the first peat-influenced release from the Glenlivet distillery in over a century, and it earned a Double Gold Medal at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition.

Quick Facts: ABV: 61.5% (123 proof)  |  Origin: Speyside, Scotland  |  NAS — Cask Strength  |  Distillery: The Glenlivet

Production & Heritage

The Glenlivet Distillery, founded in 1824 by George Smith in the Livet Valley, holds the distinction of being the first legally licensed distillery in the Speyside region. Nadurra Peated begins its maturation in first-fill ex-bourbon casks before undergoing a secondary finish in casks that previously held heavily peated Scotch whisky — a technique that layers smoke onto the distillery's characteristically fruity spirit. Bottled in small batches at natural cask strength with no chill-filtration, the whisky retains its full range of oils, texture, and flavor compounds, making each batch a slightly different experience.

Tasting Notes

Aroma: Soft red apples and ripe pear open the nose, followed by bright citrus zest and a dusting of aromatic smoke. Beneath that sits a faint tobacco leaf quality that deepens as the whisky breathes in the glass.

Taste: The entry is rich and tangy, with orange marmalade giving way to creamy vanilla toffee at the mid-palate. Toasted smokiness emerges alongside chocolate and pineapple notes as the cask strength power builds, delivering layers of peat that complement rather than overwhelm the distillery's signature fruitiness.

Finish: Long and complex, with warming spice that gradually yields to subtler smoky echoes. The non-chill-filtered body keeps the finish rich and oily, lingering with toffee sweetness and a final whisper of peat.

How to Drink Nadurra Peated

At 61.5% ABV, a few drops of water unlock considerable complexity and tame the heat without diminishing the smoke — start with just a splash and adjust to taste. Neat tasting in a Glencairn glass rewards patience as the layers unfold over several minutes. In cocktails, the cask strength and peated character give it unusual versatility: a Penicillin is the natural match, where the smoky backbone stands up to honey-ginger syrup and fresh lemon; a Rob Roy gains striking depth when built on this whisky's toffee-and-smoke profile; and a Smoky Old Fashioned lets the peat carry the drink without needing a separate Islay float.

Best For

• Gifting a Speyside enthusiast ready to explore peated expressions
• Side-by-side tasting sessions comparing peated and unpeated Glenlivet bottlings
• Adding a cask strength anchor to a home whisky collection
• After-dinner sipping with a few drops of water on cool evenings

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Nadurra Peated taste like? The dominant profile is tangy marmalade and creamy vanilla toffee wrapped in a distinct toasted smokiness, with supporting notes of chocolate, pineapple, and warm spice. At cask strength it delivers bold intensity, but a splash of water softens the heat and brings out more fruit.

How does Nadurra Peated compare to Balvenie Peated Cask? Both use a similar technique — finishing traditionally unpeated Speyside malt in casks that previously held heavily peated whisky. Nadurra Peated is bottled at full cask strength (61.5%) without chill-filtration, making it noticeably more intense and oily than Balvenie's peated expressions, which are typically bottled at lower proof.

Is Nadurra Peated good for sipping neat? Yes, though the 61.5% ABV benefits from a few drops of water to open the aroma and round the palate. Experienced cask strength drinkers will enjoy it undiluted, where the full weight of smoke and toffee comes through at peak intensity.

Where is Nadurra Peated made? It is produced at The Glenlivet Distillery in the Livet Valley within the Speyside region of the Scottish Highlands. Founded in 1824, Glenlivet was the first distillery in the parish of Glenlivet to obtain a legal license.

What foods pair well with Nadurra Peated? Smoked salmon or smoked trout mirrors the whisky's peat influence while contrasting its sweetness. Dark chocolate (70% cacao or higher) highlights the toffee and chocolate notes in the palate. Aged cheddar or Comté cheese stands up to the cask strength intensity. Grilled lamb chops with rosemary complement the spicy, smoky finish. Crème brûlée echoes the caramelized vanilla toffee character.

What sizes does Nadurra Peated come in? The standard release is a 750ml bottle, which is the most widely available format.

Is Nadurra Peated worth the price? Nadurra Peated positions as a premium expression within The Glenlivet range, and its cask strength, non-chill-filtered, small-batch production justifies a step up from core bottlings. A Double Gold Medal at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition and its status as the distillery's first peated release in over a century add collectible appeal alongside strong drinking quality.

Why Nadurra Peated?

What sets this bottling apart is the collision of two identities: Glenlivet's signature fruity elegance and a bold layer of peat smoke acquired through cask finishing — a combination the distillery had not explored for more than one hundred years. The non-chill-filtered, cask strength format preserves every nuance of that experiment, delivering a whisky with significantly more body and complexity than standard-proof Speyside malts. Its Double Gold Medal at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition confirms the quality is not just novelty. For drinkers who know Glenlivet as a gentle, approachable Speyside, Nadurra Peated is a revelation of what the distillery's spirit can become under the influence of peat.