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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 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

Glenlivet 64 Year Old 1954 - Private Collection (Gordon & MacPhail)

70cl, 41%

An impressively well-aged Glenlivet, bottled at a smashing 64 years old. After it was distilled in 1954 (the very same year that Ian Fleming published Live and Let Die, don't you know), the single…  More info

Glenlivet 64 Year Old 1954 - Private Collection (Gordon & MacPhail)

The Glenlivet Nàdurra Oloroso Batch OL1120

70cl, 60.1%

Glenlivet's outstanding Nàdurra range ('Nàdurra' means 'Natural' in Gaelic) is filled with small-batch whisky, bottled at cask strength without any chill-filtration or additional colours. This one…  More info

The Glenlivet Nàdurra Oloroso Batch OL1120
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The Glenlivet 12 Year Old - Illicit Still

70cl, 48%

This expression from Glenlivet was inspired by the stories of Glenlivet's founder George Smith, illicitly distilling whisky before licencing his distillery. It's a limited edition single malt Scotch…  More info

The Glenlivet 12 Year Old - Illicit Still

Glenlivet 1999 (bottled 2018) (cask 77205) - Samaroli

70cl, 45%

An independent bottling of single malt from the Glenlivet distillery in Speyside, distilled back in 1999 and bottled in 2018 by Italian bottler Samaroli. As ever, Samaroli have beautifully presented…  More info

Glenlivet 1999 (bottled 2018) (cask 77205) - Samaroli

The Glenlivet Nàdurra First Fill Selection Batch FF0717

70cl, 60.3%

Glenlivet's Nàdurra range showcases whisky in all its natural glory by presenting it at cask strength, without any chill-filtration or additional colours. Their First Fill Selection series also…  More info

The Glenlivet Nàdurra First Fill Selection Batch FF0717
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Glenlivet 33 Year Old 1986 (cask 16601801) - Connoisseurs Choice (Gordon & MacPhail)

70cl, 47.5%

A mightily well-aged single malt from Glenlivet, brought to us by Gordon & MacPhail for its Connoisseurs Choice collection! Distilled in 1986, the whisky spent 33 years maturing in a single refill…  More info

Glenlivet 33 Year Old 1986 (cask 16601801) - Connoisseurs Choice (Gordon & MacPhail)

The Glenlivet 18 Year Old (without Presentation Box)

70cl, 43%

A terrific 18 year old single malt from the Glenlivet Distillery, packed full of honeyed fruit, fragrant vanilla and hints of nutty malt running throughout. Simply a classic Speyside…  More info

The Glenlivet 18 Year Old (without Presentation Box)

The Glenlivet Triple Cask Matured Distiller's Reserve

100cl, 40%

Originally released as part of Glenlivet's Travel Retail market offering, the Triple Cask Matured Distiller's Reserve expression brings together whisky matured in three different types of cask -…  More info

The Glenlivet Triple Cask Matured Distiller's Reserve
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The Glenlivet 12 Year Old - 1980s

75cl, 40%

It doesn't get much more classic than a 1980s bottling of classic Glenlivet 12 Year Old! The label reads "Unblended all malt", or as you and I know it today, of course: single malt. This bottle…  More info

The Glenlivet 12 Year Old - 1980s

The Glenlivet 12 Year Old First Fill

70cl, 40%

From Speyside's Glenlivet comes this marvellous 12 year old single malt. Matured exclusively in first fill American oak casks for a dozen years, it's brimming with fruity floral notes – a fabulous…  More info

The Glenlivet 12 Year Old First Fill

The Glenlivet Archive 21 Year Old

70cl, 43%

A Gold Medal Winner at the 2005, 2006 and 2007 International Wine & Spirit Competition, the 2002 International Spirits Challenge and a Double Gold Medal at the San Francisco World Spirits…  More info

The Glenlivet Archive 21 Year Old
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The Glenlivet Archive 21 Year Old - Pre-2004

70cl, 43%

Take a trip down memory lane with this pre-2004 release of The Glenlivet's stunning Archive 21 Year Old single malt! The tinted glass plus the black and gold label are not a feature of the…  More info

The Glenlivet Archive 21 Year Old - Pre-2004

The Glenlivet Code

70cl, 48%

Following on from the intriguing Alpha and Cipher expressions, Glenlivet Code is another mysterious (and delicious) single malt Scotch whisky from the legendary distillery. Once again, they have…  More info

The Glenlivet Code
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Glenlivet 33 Year Old 1976 (Dansk Maltwhisky Akademi)

70cl, 51.2%

A rather old bottling of Glenlivet, distilled in 1976 and then aged for an impressive 33 years. After this time, it was bottled in 2010 by the Dansk Maltwhisky Akademi for the annual WWW Falster…  More info

Glenlivet 33 Year Old 1976 (Dansk Maltwhisky Akademi)

The Glenlivet 1983 - Cellar Collection

70cl, 46%

Distilled at The Glenlivet in 1983 and aged in French Limousin casks before it was bottled in 2003. This bottle was part of a private collection - if you'd like more detailed photos just get in…  More info

The Glenlivet 1983 - Cellar Collection
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Glenlivet 1959 - Private Collection (Gordon and MacPhail)

70cl, 47.5%

Over 50 years in the making, older vintages of Glenlivet are becoming increasingly rare - invest while you can!  More info

Glenlivet 1959 - Private Collection (Gordon and MacPhail)

Glenlivet 14 Year Old 2006 (cask 901279) - Cask Strength Collection (Signatory)

70cl, 62.2%

A single cask bottling of Glenlivet single malt, drawn from a first-fill sherry butt that was laid down in December 2006. After 14 years of maturation, the whisky was bottled in April 2021 by…  More info

Glenlivet 14 Year Old 2006 (cask 901279) - Cask Strength Collection (Signatory)

The Glenlivet Triple Cask Matured Rare Cask

100cl, 40%

From The Glenlivet's Travel Retail market range comes this fruity expression, Triple Cask Matured Rare Cask! The single malt has been matured in a trio of casks with the majority of the spirit having…  More info

The Glenlivet Triple Cask Matured Rare Cask
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Glenlivet 14 Year Old 2006 (cask 900997) - Cask Strength Collection (Signatory)

70cl, 61.4%

This glorious single cask bottling of Glenlivet was distilled in 2006 and laid down in a single first-fill sherry butt in October 2006. In April 2021, after 14 years of maturation, the whisky was…  More info

Glenlivet 14 Year Old 2006 (cask 900997) - Cask Strength Collection (Signatory)

Smith's Glenlivet 1938 - Gordon & MacPhail

75cl, 40%

A very rare bottling of single malt from Glenlivet, distilled all the way back in 1938 - pre-World War II whisky! This was bottled by Gordon & MacPhail and released with a wonderfully retro…  More info

Smith's Glenlivet 1938 - Gordon & MacPhail

The Glenlivet XXV (25 Year Old) (No Box)

70cl, 43%

A bottle of Glenlivet's XXV 25 year old single malt Scotch whisky, which was finished in Oloroso Sherry casks to bring some very welcome notes of Sherry-soaked raisins and dark chocolate to the table.  More info

The Glenlivet XXV (25 Year Old) (No Box)

Glenlivet 27 Year Old 1989 - Single Cask (Master of Malt)

70cl, 51.4%

A 27 year old Glenlivet single malt, which we've independently bottled as part of our Single Cask Series. This one was distilled in June 1989, matured in a bourbon cask and bottled just 10 days…  More info

Glenlivet 27 Year Old 1989 - Single Cask (Master of Malt)

Glenlivet 10 Year Old 2007 (cask 900214) - Artist #8 (La Maison du Whisky)

70cl, 64.1%

10 year old single malt from the Glenlivet Distillery which has been matured in a single first-fill sherry hogshead from 2007 to 2018. Following its slumber, La Maison du Whisky independently bottled…  More info

Glenlivet 10 Year Old 2007 (cask 900214) - Artist #8 (La Maison du Whisky)

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

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