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The Glenlivet

The Glenlivet rather grandly styles itself as “the single malt that started it all” but there’s more than a grain of truth to its claim. In the early 18th and 19th century most Highland malt whisky was distilled illegally. Despite its shady beginnings, Glenlivet had a reputation that reached as far as London. Indeed when George IV visited the region in 1822, he wanted to try the fabled Glenlivet and was given something that was described as “whisky long in wood, long in uncorked bottles, mild as milk, and the true contraband gout in it.”

The man behind that famed dram was George Smith, a tenant farmer on land belonging to Alexander Gordon, Duke of Gordon. The Duke, not surprisingly, was a great advocate for reforming the draconian legislation around distilling so that he could commercialise it. 1823 saw the passing of the Excise Act which liberalised distilling but also provided more resources and power to excise officers. One of the first people to take advantage of the new laws was George Smith who built a new distillery at Glenlivet in the Highlands on what was once a farm distillery called Upper Drummin.

Threats were made on George Smith’s life by smugglers and the story goes that he took to carrying a pair of pistols to protect himself against those who stood to lose their livelihoods but he held firm. In this he was backed by government legislation and a sympathetic landlord. The statistics tell the story: 14000 illicit distilling activities were uncovered in 1823, but by 1834 it was down to 692. Illicit distillation never became a major problem again.

In just two years after the act, the number of licensed distilleries doubled and legal whisky production rose from two million to six million gallons a year. Glenlivet was so prestigious that it gave its name to the whole region, now known as Speyside. To help preserve his brand, George Smith’s son, John Gordon Smith, applied for sole rights to the name, which were granted in 1884 but allowed other producers to hyphenate it with their own names eg. Glenfarclas-Glenlivet, which is still seen today, though very rarely. Which is why the original is known grandly as THE Glenlivet to differentiate itself from all those hyphenated Glenlivets.

Glenlivet made a different style of whisky to that which was current in the region, producing a lighter fruitier new make, something that has continued to this day. The whisky was such a success that he built another distillery in 1850 at Delnabo which never really functioned properly due to problems with the water supply. There were further problems when the original distillery burned down in 1858, something of a perennial problem in the whisky business. In 1859, he opened a new distillery near Ballindalloch where it remains to this day.

As well as being sold as a single malt, Glenlivet was much in demand by blenders. Blended whisky was taking off in the 19th century, most notably by Edinburg merchant Andrew Usher with his OVG (Old Vatted Glenlivet) which was launched in 1852 and had The Glenlivet as a principle component in the blend. By the 20th century the vast majority of the distillery’s production was going for fillings but in the 1970s Glenlivet once again began to market itself as a single malt, especially in the lucrative US market.

The distillery remained in family hands until in 1952, when it merged with Glen Grant and eventually formed a small group with Longmorn and Benriach distilleries, and the firm of blenders Hill, Thompson & Co. Then, in 1978, Canadian multinational Seagram took a £46 million controlling stake in the business and The Glenlivet became part of the Chivas Brothers portfolio. When Seagram collapsed in 2001, Pernod Ricard took over Chivas Brothers. Under this new ownership, as part of a £10 million investment, an extension with an additional mash tun, eight washbacks and six stills was opened by the Prince of Wales on 5 June 2010, with the capacity of the distillery increased by 75%, to 10.5 million litres per year.

Today the set-up consists of two 13.5 ton mash tuns with 16 Oregon pine and 16 stainless steel washbacks. Distillation takes place in 14 lamp-glass copper stills. The distillery uses unpeated malt and according to former master distiller Alan Winchester still carries the DNA of George Smith’s mid 19th century Glenlivet. The range stretches from the sweet honeyed Founder’s Reserve, through classic age statements like the 12 and 18 year olds, takes in cask finishes like the rum barrel Caribbean Reserve, and goes up to stratospherically expensive very old releases. The Glenlivet is the best-selling single malt in America and the second best-selling in the world.

The Glenlivet 18 Year Old

70cl, 40%

This excellent 18 year old single malt Scotch whisky from Glenlivet is a classic Speyside dram, matured in a combination of first and second fill American oak and sherry casks. It also won two golds…  More info

The Glenlivet 18 Year Old
114
$106.97

The Glenlivet 12 Year Old Licensed Dram - The Original Stories

70cl, 48%

The second addition to The Original Stories series from The Glenlivet! This expression follows The Glenlivet 12 Year Old - Illicit Still, and celebrates the next chapter in the history of the…  More info

The Glenlivet 12 Year Old Licensed Dram - The Original Stories
2
$50.90

The Glenlivet 15 Year Old French Oak Reserve

70cl, 40%

This 15 year old expression from The Glenlivet, was matured in French Limousin Oak casks. Limousin Oak is a popular choice for maturation of Cognac.  More info

The Glenlivet 15 Year Old French Oak Reserve
161
$49.42

The Glenlivet 12 Year Old

70cl, 40%

Excellent 12 year old single malt from the Glenlivet Distillery in Speyside, which enjoys its maturation in both European and American oak casks. It's an immensely popular expression which…  More info

The Glenlivet 12 Year Old
20
$38.21

The Glenlivet Captain's Reserve

70cl, 40%

An intriguing release from The Glenlivet, been finished in ex-Cognac casks for a ‘raisin-rich’ intensity, along with citrus notes and a creamy smoothness. Whisky finished in Cognac casks is not a…  More info

The Glenlivet Captain's Reserve
25
$48.39

The Glenlivet Caribbean Reserve

70cl, 40%

A tropical expression from The Glenlivet, for Caribbean Reserve a portion of the whisky was finished in casks which previously held Caribbean rum. The distillery folks suggest adding a splash of…  More info

The Glenlivet Caribbean Reserve
36
$38.15
Price Drop

The Glenlivet Founder's Reserve

70cl, 40%

First revealed towards the end of 2014, the Founder's Reserve single malt Scotch whisky is now available in the UK and will be replacing The Glenlivet 12 year old in many of the mature markets…  More info

The Glenlivet Founder's Reserve
385
$36.11
$33.61

The Glenlivet Spectra (3 x 20cl)

60cl, 40%

Glenlivet has a history of releasing rather mysterious whiskies (Alpha, Cipher and Code, for example), and they're at it again with The Glenlivet Spectra! This time, Glenlivet master distiller Alan…  More info

The Glenlivet Spectra (3 x 20cl)
$101.78

Glenlivet 24 Year Old 1976 (cask 5525) - First Cask

70cl, 46%

Collectible Glenlivet? Lovely stuff! This is a 24 year old Glenlivet single malt, distilled back in 1976 and aged in a single cask. It was independently bottled by the First Cask folks at 46%…  More info

Glenlivet 24 Year Old 1976 (cask 5525) - First Cask
$712.22

Avonside-Glenlivet 33 Year Old 1938

75cl, 43%

A rare bottle of Avonside-Glenlivet single malt, distilled in 1938 and bottled 33 years later by Gordon & MacPhail. The naming was a result of Glenlivet taking legal action against other distillers…  More info

Avonside-Glenlivet 33 Year Old 1938
$2,037.84

Avonside-Glenlivet 35 Year Old 1938

75cl, 43%

Feast your eyes upon a very rare bottle of Avonside-Glenlivet 35 year old, distilled all the way back in 1938 and bottled by Gordon & MacPhail. This bottle was part of a private collection - if…  More info

Avonside-Glenlivet 35 Year Old 1938
$2,542.20

Glenlivet 15 Year Old 2006 (cask 900791) - Cask Strength Collection (Signatory)

70cl, 63.9%

A cracking single malt from Glenlivet, distilled in 2006 and matured for 15 years between 2006 and 2022 in a single first-fill sherry butt. That cask was selected by the clever gang at independent…  More info

Glenlivet 15 Year Old 2006 (cask 900791) - Cask Strength Collection (Signatory)

The Glenlivet XXV (25 Year Old)

70cl, 43%

A 25 year old from The Glenlivet, finished in Oloroso sherry casks.  More info

The Glenlivet XXV (25 Year Old)
34

Glenlivet 15 Year Old 2006 (cask 900790) - Cask Strength Collection (Signatory)

70cl, 63.8%

This bottle of Glenlivet was aged for 15 years after its distillation in August 2006. It matured nicely in a first-fill sherry butt until the single malt was bottled in June 2022 for Signatory's Cask…  More info

Glenlivet 15 Year Old 2006 (cask 900790) - Cask Strength Collection (Signatory)

Glenlivet 16 Year Old 2006 (cask 900802) - Cask Strength Collection (Signatory)

70cl, 57.9%

Hailing from the Glenlivet distillery, a splendid 16-year-old single malt! Matured in a first fill sherry butt between August 2006 and September 2022, the whisky was independently bottled by…  More info

Glenlivet 16 Year Old 2006 (cask 900802) - Cask Strength Collection (Signatory)

Glenlivet 16 Year Old 2006 (cask 900800) - Cask Strength Collection (Signatory)

70cl, 60.7%

An independently-bottled Glenlivet single malt from Signatory, distilled in August 2006. It rested in a single first-fill sherry butt for the next 16 years before being bottled in November 2022 as…  More info

Glenlivet 16 Year Old 2006 (cask 900800) - Cask Strength Collection (Signatory)

Glenlivet 1989 (cask 13626) - Mackillop's Choice

70cl, 42.3%

A great Glenlivet here, independently bottled up for the Mackillop's Choice range. This single cask Speysider was distilled back in June 1989, and eventually it was bottled in June 2020, with a very…  More info

Glenlivet 1989 (cask 13626) - Mackillop's Choice

The Glenlivet 18 Year Old - Pre 2004

70cl, 43%

Produced before a 2004 rebrand, this bottle of The Glenlivet 18 Year Old ought to look rather smart in a collection. Complete with its original box, the dark green bottle is really rather elegant.  More info

The Glenlivet 18 Year Old - Pre 2004

Glenlivet 28 Year Old Oloroso Cask Finish (Darkness)

50cl, 48.2%

A 28 year old single malt from the Glenlivet Distillery, independently bottled up as part of the Darkness range! This richly sherried expression enjoyed a finishing period in a specially-coopered…  More info

Glenlivet 28 Year Old Oloroso Cask Finish (Darkness)

The Glenlivet Nàdurra First Fill Selection Batch FF0122

70cl, 58.8%

From Glenlivet's Nàdurra range ("Nàdurra" means "natural") comes a single malt Scotch whisky bottled at cask strength without chill-filtration or additional colouring (hence the "natural" reference…  More info

The Glenlivet Nàdurra First Fill Selection Batch FF0122

The Glenlivet 15 Year Old - Pre 2004

100cl, 43%

A cracking litre bottling of The Glenlivet 15 Year Old single malt. This one dates to sometime before 2004 and comes in an old-school green glass bottle, complete with its original box. This…  More info

The Glenlivet 15 Year Old - Pre 2004

Glenlivet 28 Year Old 1989 Single Cask (Master of Malt)

70cl, 48.2%

We do love a single malt from Glenlivet, and just take a look at this glorious example – so good we snapped up a whole cask of it! Distilled in 1989, the whisky was initially filled into an…  More info

Glenlivet 28 Year Old 1989 Single Cask (Master of Malt)
$407.51

Glenlivet 15 Year Old 2006 (cask 900786) - Cask Strength Collection (Signatory)

70cl, 63.7%

Behold the glory of Glenlivet in this superb single malt, distilled in August 2006 and matured for 15 years in a single first-fill sherry butt. In January 2022, a total of 616 bottles were drawn from…  More info

Glenlivet 15 Year Old 2006 (cask 900786) - Cask Strength Collection (Signatory)

Glenlivet 45 Year Old 1973 (cask 12/1) - 30th Anniversary Gift Box (Signatory)

70cl, 43.1%

To celebrate its 30th anniversary Signatory bottled up some incredible whiskies, including this 45 year old single malt from the Glenlivet Distillery! Now that's how you celebrate! The whisky was…  More info

Glenlivet 45 Year Old 1973 (cask 12/1) - 30th Anniversary Gift Box (Signatory)

The Glenlivet 18 Year Old Carmaferg - Single Cask Edition

70cl, 54.2%

A single cask bottling of 18 year old Glenlivet single malt, bestowed a name that hints towards the distillery's surrounding area. Evidently, Carmaferg Hill was once a landmark for whisky smugglers.…  More info

The Glenlivet 18 Year Old Carmaferg - Single Cask Edition

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