Today a review (one out of two) by Bottler Gordon & MacPhail, bottled exclusively for The Whisky Exchange. This year is the 50th anniversary of the launch of the Connoisseurs Choice label, and TWE have joined in the celebrations with the release of this Glenlivet (and another Glenturret 14 which I will review shortly).
The whisky at hand today is a 15-year-old Glenlivet 2003, aged in a single refill bourbon barrel. It’s exactly what TWE wanted from a Glenlivet of this age: a fruity dram with softly creamy notes and just the right amount of spice.
Glenlivet 15 yo 2003 , G&M for TWE 2018 , 59.4% ABV , £99.95 (TWE)
Nose: Apples and sweet pastries, creme Anglais and vanilla, some orange zest, and more orchard fruit : mainly peaches. further nosing reveals some spices such as pepper and ginger powder which give way to grapefruit pith.
Palate: a rether nice Ex-bourbon cask at play here , with more grapefruit , and quite some pepper and chili (I did not expect it!) , then the pastries make a nice comeback with the vanilla and sweet dough and peach cobbler with zingy cinnamon, and more citrus peel all over. Big palate indeed, not your average Livet.
Finish: Oak, apples, and wood spices, with zesty grapefruit notes.
Conclusion: Very good stuff indeed, with enough creamy / fruity and zingy notes, quite peppery and fiesty for a Glenlivet and I like that!
Score: 87/100
Available online at TWE.