Gordon & Macphail Glenlivet 2003 Refill Bourbon Barrel Connoisseur’s Choice - 70cl
Gordon & MacPhail Glenlivet 2003 Refill Bourbon Barrel, Connoisseurs Choice is an independent single cask bottling of Glenlivet, not a distillery release. Distilled on 1 July 2003 and aged 21 years in a refill bourbon barrel, it is bottled at 58.5% ABV, with only 139 bottles.
- Tropical fruits, red apple and lemon zest, then pineapple, apricot, honey and vanilla, with lasting citrus and spice
- A single refill bourbon barrel, bottled at 58.5% ABV
- For collectors of independent bottlings who want to taste Glenlivet spirit in a fresh, ex-bourbon style
- 70cl bottle in the Connoisseurs Choice livery; limited to 139 bottles
The full story & FAQBackground · serving notes · questions
Gordon & MacPhail
Gordon & MacPhail was founded in Elgin in 1895 and is still owned by the Urquhart family. It is an independent bottler: it buys and fills its own casks, matures them, and bottles the whisky under its own labels. This is not a distillery release.
The whisky
This Glenlivet was distilled on 1 July 2003 and matured for 21 years in a single refill bourbon barrel, a cask that lets the distillery's fruity character lead. It was released in Gordon & MacPhail's Connoisseurs Choice range at 58.5% ABV, with 139 bottles.
How to enjoy it
Taste it neat first, then add water a few drops at a time to bring the strength down. Water opens the tropical fruit, honey and vanilla. It works well as a slow after-dinner dram.
Frequently asked
Is this an official Glenlivet bottling?
No. It is an independent bottling by Gordon & MacPhail from a cask of Glenlivet spirit, released in their Connoisseurs Choice range. It is not a distillery release.
How is it different from The Glenlivet 21 Year Old?
The distillery's 21 Year Old is a multi-cask whisky at 43% with an Oloroso, port and Cognac finish. This is a single refill bourbon barrel at 58.5%, so it is fresher and more fruit-driven, with no wine-cask influence.
Can I see it before I buy?
Yes. Book a private viewing at our showroom at 2 Sims Close, #02-10, through our concierge on WhatsApp +65 9680 5856.
How is it delivered?
Delivery is free with no minimum spend, and our concierge arranges the handover with you personally.
TASTING NOTES
NOSE
Fresh and elegantly complex with pineapple, Seville orange zest, and honeycomb at the fore, layered with lime, golden apple, lemon peel, soft butter, and a gentle vanilla custard creaminess — the hallmark of a beautifully matured Glenlivet spirit allowed to develop freely over two decades.
PALATE
Sweet and satisfyingly layered with stewed apple, pear, and vanilla leading, complemented by white pepper, ginger root, kiwi, and bitter lemon peel — a slightly fuller-bodied and sweeter character at cask strength that opens beautifully with a drop of water.
FINISH
Long and herbaceous with plenty of vanilla, a drop of lemon juice, sweet apple, charred oak, and a lingering citrus warmth — a clean, graceful, and deeply satisfying close that reflects twenty-one years of patient refill bourbon maturation.
ABV: 58.5% ABV