Whiskies aged in first-fill Sherry butts are especially so, and those drawn entirely from such sherried stock are invariably known as “sherry bombs” for the potent flavors the malt whisky has derived from its time spent mingling with the sherry-soaked wood. The ‘Sherried’ character, therefore, is down to the Sherry itself, but also oxidation and the way in which the Sherry has interacted with and changed compounds in the oak. All of these then interact over time with the maturing spirit.

The Sherry and wood form a pincer movement that stamps out distillery character or any sense of identity in the distillate itself. For me, a great Sherry-matured malt should possess a balance between distillery identity, fruitiness, earthiness and a lick of spice. Sherry bombs almost always eschew this tightrope balance in favor of heat, density and aggression of wood flavor.

A companion to the much-loved bourbon-cask-matured Nadurra, the Nadurra Oloroso is a cask-strength Glenlivet that has been solely matured in first-fill oloroso sherry casks. The result is a full-bodied, heavily sherried dram that still shows the elegance that you find at the core of Glenlivet’s spirit.

The Nàdurra range uses traditional 19th-century production methods to create inventive and original whiskies. This version is matured in first-fill Oloroso sherry oak casks from the Spanish region of Jerez. The sherry-soaked wood introduces the rich, sultry flavours of dried fruit and warm spice. Nàdurra Oloroso, like all expressions in the range, is bottled and released in small batches, and, unlike most modern whiskies, is non-chill filtered so has all the body you would expect from a whisky that has been drawn straight from the cask. It’s a bright, vivacious gold liquid, with aromas of dried fruit and spice. To drink, it’s smooth and creamy with chocolate and marmalade. This is a divine example of what happens when you bring together Spanish passion and Speyside tradition. This whisky is all about using traditions to achieve modern brilliance.

Cask Type: First Fill Oloroso Sherry Oak . ABV: 60.7%

Nose
Dried fruit notes at the fore, raisins, apricots, cinnamon, liquorice soon joined by rich chocolate and a subtle nuttiness (almost a bit like a Picnic bar). Hints of struck match, anise, cinnamon and vanilla.

Palate
Dark chocolate, Seville orange, flaky pastry and crunchy fruits fresh from the orchard. Give it a minute and the anise on the nose comes running back too. Smooth and creamy, spicy orange marmalade, dark chocolate

Finish
Long and sweet, slightly dry and spicy. More dark chocolate and drying spice. 

Balance, Body & Feel
Flavor, dried fruits, warm spices. Enjoy with, Spicy jambalaya.