The Glenlivet

Glenlivet is a worldwide known and iconic single malt whisky. Glenlivet single malts are signified by their citrus notes and a creamy smoothness, and for nearly two centuries the Speyside-distillery has made its mark – and been on every collector’s shelf. With over nine million liters sold a year The Glenlivet is one of the best-selling producers of single malt in the world. And with good reason: The Glenlivet is the assurance of high quality, premium scotch, and that’s been the case since the distillery was illegal.

The Collection

The Glenlivet was founded in 1824 by George Smith, and the distillery remained in family hands for a couple more generations. Today the French spirits producer Pernod Ricard owns the legendary distillery, and the collection presently consists of three ranges:

• Explore
• Travel
• Heritage

While honoring their long history and tradition The Glenlivet doesn’t live in the past. They do, however, take inspiration from George Smith by adhering to his vision of breaking traditions and setting new standards whilst constantly moving forward. Recently this vision has manifested itself into one of the newest expressions, which was released in July 2019. The Glenlivet 14 Year Old (also known as Captain’s Reserve) is exclusive to the American market, and it stands out with its double cask maturation – firstly in classic American bourbon, secondly in French cognac.

The Glenlivet Founder’s Reserve has been created to display the essence of George Smith’s vision. To that end, this expression has been made using the same time-honored distillation methods, George Smith introduced back in the day. It’s produced in the original lantern-shaped pot stills, which the founder himself designed, and matured in the same kind of casks used in the 19th-century. Sticking true to the norm in George Smith’s day, Founder’s Reserve consists of whisky in varying ages, but this expression consists of whisky from both aged oak casks as well as first-fill American oak casks. Each cask has been handpicked, and the marrying of the two casks lends itself to a smooth and complex single malt with a nose and palate of many nuances.

The Explore range

The Explore range currently consists of the three Nàdurra expressions. ‘Nàdurra’ is Gaelic for natural, and traditional 19th-century methods are used to produce this range of small-batch releases. The Glenlivet Nàdurra First Fill is bottled at cask strength at 59.1 % from American white oak casks, which haven’t been used to mature scotch whisky previously. The white oak contributes with notes of creamy vanilla, and the white oak shines through rather clearly – accompanied by pear, pineapple, banana as well as a citric sparkle.

The Travel range

Within the Travel range is another three expressions, all of which have been triple cask matured in ex-sherry, American oak, and white oak. The Glenlivet Rare Cask has been on the market as of May 2019, and its limited release is due to the uniquely small batches. This expression has based the product of handpicked rare casks, and it’s furthermore defined by its high proportion of sherry. A rich taste and depth are conveyed in the delicate flavor combination, where vanilla, orange marmalade, ginger and licorice are particularly taste-forward.

The Heritage range

The largest range is Heritage, in which Glenlivet introduces their core expressions as well as the Winchester sub-collection. The Glenlivet 12 Year Old is the distillery’s flagship single malt, and known by its smooth, fruity and complex character the 12 Year Old is a classic for a reason. It’s matured in both traditional oak as well as in American oak, which brings both vanilla notes and a distinct smoothness. The flagship has a fruity nose and mouth with especially the taste of pineapple being strong.

The one and only The Glenlivet

Up until the Excise Act in 1823, it was illegal to distill whisky. This, however, didn’t mean that whisky wasn’t produced – indeed whisky was produced in heaps, and the business of selling and smuggling was enormous. Eventually, it became too obvious of a lost opportunity to make money, and so the distillation of whisky was legalized.

Glenlivet takes its name from the Livet valley, in which the distillery was built in 1822. With whisky production still being illegal, the valley proved an ideal location, and Glenlivet quickly proved itself. The story has it that even King George IV asked to taste a bit of the Glenlivet dram during a state visit despite it being illegal.

When the Excise Act was enacted in 1823, George Smith was among the first to legalize his whisky venture. With an establishment in 1824, The Glenlivet is one of the oldest whisky distilleries.

In 1871 George Smith died, and his son, John Gordon Smith, took over, and by 1884 Glenlivet had become so notorious that competitors stole the name and sold their subpar whisky on the Glenlivet name. Consequently, John Smith got the rights to another three little letters, which turned the venture into something unique: The Glenlivet.

Captain Bill Smith Grant, a second great-nephew to John Smith, took the reins of the distillery in 1921, and he spent his years in charge having to deal with both The Great Depression and the American Prohibition. When the Prohibition was repealed in 1933, The Glenlivet emerged brilliantly on the American market despite the preceding years of low production.

Beginning in the 1950s The Glenlivet’s ownership structure began changing, firstly with a merge with the Glen Grant Distillery in 1953, and in 1977 the Canadian company Seagram acquired The Glenlivet. In 2000 Pernod Ricard and Diageo acquired Seagram, and The Glenlivet became a part of the French Pernod Ricard.

Being the bestselling single malt in America and the next-bestselling single malt worldwide The Glenlivet is a long ago established name. The quality of The Glenlivet is unquestionable, although there is one question to pose: Can you be a whisky connoisseur if you don’t have a Glenlivet expression in your collection?*

*the answer is no