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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 Master Distiller's Reserve Small Batch

70cl, 40%

Originally released for the Travel Retail market, the Master Distiller's Reserve Small Batch from Glenlivet is made with specially selected casks, including first-fill ex-Sherry casks, first-fill…  More info

The Glenlivet Master Distiller's Reserve Small Batch
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Glenlivet 38 Year Old 1981 - North Star Spirits

70cl, 49.1%

A fabulously well-aged Glenlivet, bottled courtesy of North Star Spirits! The single malt was distilled in 1981, and spent nearly four decades of ageing in a hogshead. After 38 years it was bottled…  More info

Glenlivet 38 Year Old 1981 - North Star Spirits

Glenlivet 1951 (bottled 2016) - Gordon & MacPhail

70cl, 40.2%

Feast your eyes upon some very, very old Glenlivet single malt! This whisky was distilled all the way back in 1951 and independently bottled by Gordon & MacPhail in 2016 - well over 60 years later!…  More info

Glenlivet 1951 (bottled 2016) - Gordon & MacPhail

Glenlivet 12 Year Old 2007 (cask 900238) - Un-Chillfiltered Collection (Signatory)

70cl, 46%

An indie, sherried Glenlivet? Well, this is rather nice! Distilled in April 2007, this Speysider spent its 12 years of ageing in a single first-fill sherry butt, until Signatory bottled it up in 2020…  More info

Glenlivet 12 Year Old 2007 (cask 900238) - Un-Chillfiltered Collection (Signatory)

Glenlivet 31 Year Old 1969 (cask 1392) - Signatory

70cl, 56.4%

A really rather snazzy indie bottling of Glenlivet, distilled in Speyside back in February 1969. It was left for over three decades in a single sherry butt (number #1392, if you were curious) until…  More info

Glenlivet 31 Year Old 1969 (cask 1392) - Signatory

The Glenlivet 16 Year Old Cairn na Bruar - Single Cask Edition

70cl, 60.2%

This is a single cask bottling of single malt from Speyside's Glenlivet distillery, bottled in November 2016 with an outturn of 558 bottles (originally released for the German market). This was…  More info

The Glenlivet 16 Year Old Cairn na Bruar - Single Cask Edition

The Glenlivet Master Distiller's Reserve - Solera Vatted

100cl, 40%

One of two new Master Distiller's releases from the summer of 2015, originally for travel retail. The Solera Reserve, like the others in the range, is made up of whiskies matured in ex-Sherry casks,…  More info

The Glenlivet Master Distiller's Reserve - Solera Vatted
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Glenlivet 25 Year Old 1993 - Sar Obair Decanter (Kingsbury)

70cl, 54.3%

This impressive Glenlivet was bottled under the Sar Obair label (which translates to 'precious and rare') from indie bottler Kingsbury. After it was distilled in 1993, the single malt was left to…  More info

Glenlivet 25 Year Old 1993 - Sar Obair Decanter (Kingsbury)

Glenlivet 14 Year Old 2004 - Connoisseurs Choice (Gordon & MacPhail)

70cl, 64%

This indie Speysider began its life at the Glenlivet Distillery in 2004. The single malt spent the following 14 years in a single refill bourbon barrel, until it was bottled in July 2019. Gordon &…  More info

Glenlivet 14 Year Old 2004 - Connoisseurs Choice (Gordon & MacPhail)

Glenlivet 12 Year Old 2007 (cask 900279) - Un-Chillfiltered Collection (Signatory)

70cl, 46%

A 12 year old single malt from Glenlivet, aged in a single first fill sherry butt from April 2007 to August 2019. After a dozen years of restful slumber, this whisky was independently bottled by…  More info

Glenlivet 12 Year Old 2007 (cask 900279) - Un-Chillfiltered Collection (Signatory)

The Glenlivet 14 Year Old 2003 (cask 4518) - Single Cask Edition

70cl, 60.1%

A wonderful sherried single cask Glenlivet, distilled over in Speyside in the year 2003. The single malt was aged in a single sherry butt for the following 14 years, until it was bottled at cask…  More info

The Glenlivet 14 Year Old 2003 (cask 4518) - Single Cask Edition

The Glenlivet 30 Year Old - Cellar Collection

70cl, 48%

Part of Glenlivet's Cellar Collection range, which was first established around 2000, this rare and unique Speyside malt was distilled at Glenlivet in the early 1970s. After 30 years of maturation in…  More info

The Glenlivet 30 Year Old - Cellar Collection

The Glenlivet Nàdurra Peated Whisky Cask Finish Batch PW0717

70cl, 61.8%

This release from The Glenlivet Nàdurra series has enjoyed a finishing period in casks that previously contained peated whisky. This has imparted a subtle smoky element to the whisky, which is apt,…  More info

The Glenlivet Nàdurra Peated Whisky Cask Finish Batch PW0717
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Glenlivet 32 Year Old 1981 (cask 9460) - Cask Strength Collection (Signatory)

70cl, 52%

32 year old single malt from the Glenlivet Distillery, aged in a refill sherry hogshead from November 1981 to September 2014. Following that generous slumber, the whisky was bottled as part of…  More info

Glenlivet 32 Year Old 1981 (cask 9460) - Cask Strength Collection (Signatory)

Glenlivet 11 Year Old 2007 (cask 900242) - Un-Chillfiltered Collection (Signatory)

70cl, 46%

This 11 year old Glenlivet was distilled in 2007 and laid to rest in a single first-fill sherry butt. After just over a decade had passed, the single malt was bottled in February 2019 by Signatory…  More info

Glenlivet 11 Year Old 2007 (cask 900242) - Un-Chillfiltered Collection (Signatory)

The Glenlivet 12 Year Old (1L) - 1980s

100cl, 43%

stub This bottle was part of a private collection - if you'd like more detailed photos just get in touch!  More info

The Glenlivet 12 Year Old (1L) - 1980s

The Glenlivet Nàdurra Oloroso Batch OL1117

70cl, 60.3%

Excellent oloroso sherry cask-matured single malt from Glenlivet's Nàdurra range - bottled without chill-filtration or additional colours. Wonderful stuff by Glenlivet, as per usual.  More info

The Glenlivet Nàdurra Oloroso Batch OL1117
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Glenlivet 11 Year Old 2007 (cask 900241) - Un-Chillfiltered Collection (Signatory)

70cl, 46%

From the Glenlivet Distillery comes this 11 year old single malt, distilled in April 2007. It went straight into a first-fill sherry butt, and once 11 years had passed, in February 2019 the whisky…  More info

Glenlivet 11 Year Old 2007 (cask 900241) - Un-Chillfiltered Collection (Signatory)

Glenlivet 1999 (bottled 2017) (cask 77205) - Samaroli

70cl, 45%

The revered Glenlivet distillery provides the respected Samaroli a Speyside single malt Scotch that was distilled in 1999 in a very welcome marriage. The Italian indie bottlers did what they do best,…  More info

Glenlivet 1999 (bottled 2017) (cask 77205) - Samaroli

The Glenlivet 16 Year Old Glencuie - Single Cask Edition

70cl, 59.1%

16 year old single malt from the Glenlivet distillery, drawn from a single cask. This was bottled in December 2016 and given the name Glencuie (after Glencuie Cottage). 234 bottles were produced,…  More info

The Glenlivet 16 Year Old Glencuie - Single Cask Edition

The Glenlivet 18 Year Old (1L) (Old Bottling)

100cl, 43%

An old bottling of 18 year old single malt from famed Speyside distillery, Glenlivet! This collectible 1 litre bottling features a rather understated label, which looks very different compared to…  More info

The Glenlivet 18 Year Old (1L) (Old Bottling)

The Glenlivet Nàdurra Peated Whisky Cask Finish Batch PW1016

70cl, 62%

Another batch from Glenlivet's fantastic Nàdurra range. Coming from the Peated Whisky Cask Finish series with the Nàdurra range, this cask strength, non-chill-filtered single malt has enjoyed a…  More info

The Glenlivet Nàdurra Peated Whisky Cask Finish Batch PW1016
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SMWS 2.64 29 Year Old 1975

70cl, 56%

29 year old single malt from the Glenlivet distillery, released by the Scotch Malt Whisky Society. This one was distilled all the way back in December 1975, and bottled in October 2005. As is the way…  More info

SMWS 2.64 29 Year Old 1975

Glenlivet 31 Year Old 1972 (cask 1024) - Very Rare (R. N. MacDonald)

70cl, 52.3%

An R. N. MacDonald bottling of well-aged Glenlivet, distilled in 1972 and bottled 31 years later in 2003. Release as part of the Very Rare series, and it is most certainly rare indeed. This bottle…  More info

Glenlivet 31 Year Old 1972 (cask 1024) - Very Rare (R. N. MacDonald)

The Glenlivet 16 Year Old Gallow - Single Cask Edition

70cl, 51.8%

An official bottling of single cask Glenlivet, matured in a single hogshead (cask 142608), this release is named after the hill above the distillery where the local gallows were located.  More info

The Glenlivet 16 Year Old Gallow - Single Cask Edition

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