The Glenlivet Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Speyside Scotch Whisky Distillery
The only distillery allowed to call itself "The Glenlivet"
Glenlivet Scotch Whisky
Distillery Information
Founded in 1824 by George Smith
Location Speyside region Livit district
Water source Josie's Well.
Glenlivet Scotch Whisky Distilling Equipment
Un-peated malt barley
Stainless steel lautermash tun
8 Oregon pine washbacks.
8 pot stills
Matured in American oak bourbon casks with a proportion of sherry casks
The Glenlivet Scotch Whisky
Distillery History
The glen of the Livet has a plentiful supply of clean spring water that makes particularly exclusive whiskies. Amongst the major distilling districts the Livit valley is the one most deeply set into the mountains. The spring water rises from a granite base having travelled many miles underground. The mountain location also provides the weather conditions that whisky-distillers prefer during the distilling process, especially the spirit condensers work most effectively if they are cooled by very cold water in a matching cool climate.
Due to its ideal location and conditions there was a great deal of illicit distilling in the area and this was a significant reason for the reputation of the glen. There is evidence that there were a couple of hundred illicit stills in the wild, mountain country around the Livet in the late 1700s and early 1800s
.
At that time the Highlanders were only permitted to distil whisky on a domestic scale. The Duke of Gordon proposed more cooperative legislation leading to the proper licensing of whisky distilling. One of his tenants George Smith, already an established illegal distiller was encouraged by the Duke to take out a license and became the first to apply for a new licence in 1824. This year is taken as being the official foundation date of the distillery that became known as “The Glenlivet”. His son John Gordon Smith assisted and eventually succeeded George on his death in 1871.
After distilling on two other locations, Upper Drumin (1824) and Delnabo (1850) nearby, the Smiths built and moved to the distillery’s present site 1n 1858. (George and J.C. Smith Ltd)
Glenlivet was acknowledged as the home of the very best "mountain dew". Casks of "the real Glenlivet" were to be found in the cellars of all the great houses in the land and it received the Royal stamp of approval. In 1822, when George IV visited Edinburgh, it was said that "the King drinks nothing but whisky and is an admirable judge of Glenlivet
The reputation of the Glenlivit valley and especially the Glenlivit distillery became a powerful word association with whisky. Merchants in the cities wanted whisky "from Glenlivet" Even though there are only three distilleries in the glen a further 18 distilleries were using the Glenlivit in their name or calling their whisky Glenlivit even distilleries as far away on the coast north of Inverness.
In 1880 the distillery gained the exclusive designation "The Glenlivet” granted in a test case to distinguish it from the other distilleries
John Gordon Smith was succeeded in 1901 by his nephew George Smith Grant During 1921 the distillery passed to Captain W.H. Smith Grant
George and J.C. Smith Ltd merged with J&J Grant, Glen Grant Distillery in 1952 forming the Glenlivit and Glen Grant Distilleries Ltd This company merged with the Longmorn-Glenlivit Distillery Ltd in 1970 the name was rationalised to The Glenlivit Distillers Ltd. The period of independence came to an end when Seagram acquired the company in 1977.
Glenlivet
Scotch Whisky
Distillery Style
Tasting Notes
Nose: Apples, pears, flowery, vanilla.
Palate: Light to medium bodied. Vanilla, cream toffee, malty.
Finish: Long oaky, malty, sweet.
The Glenlivet Distillery, Ballindalloch, Banffshire
AB37 9DB
Tel: +44 (0)1542 783220
The Glenlivet Distillery Visitor Centre Information
Please contact the distillery for details before travelling
+44 (0)1340 821720
The Glenlivet Single Malt Scotch Whisky Distillery Bottlings
The Glenlivet 12 Year Old
The Glenlivet 15 Year Old French Oak Reserve
The Glenlivet Nadurra 16 Year Old
The Glenlivet 18 Year Old
The Glenlivet Archive 21 Year Old
The Glenlivet XXV 25 Year Old
The Glenlivet Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Vintage Older Distillery Bottlings
The Glenlivet 1983 French Oak Finish
The Glenlivet 30 Year Old American Oak Reserve
The Glenlivet 1972 Cask Strength
The Glenlivet Archive (no age statement)
The Glenlivet 12 Year Old French Finish
The Glenlivet 12 Year Old American Oak Finish
The Glenlivet 15 Year Old French Finish
The Glenlivet Distillery Edition 16 Year Old
The Glenlivet Cellar Collection 1959, 1964, 1967, 1972, 1983,
The Glenlivet Cellar Collection 30 years old American Oak
The Glenlivet Vintages 1967, 1968, 1969, 1970, 1972,
The Glenlivet Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Independent Bottlings
Adelpi,
Berrys’ Own Selection,
Blackadder,
Cadenhead’s,
Cask Strength (Gordon & MacPhail),
Coopers Choice,
Duncan Taylor Collection,
George & J.G. Smith’s Glenlivit (Gordon & MacPhail),
Hart Brothers,
Lonach (Duncan Taylor),
Mission (Murray McDavid),
Old Malt Cask (Douglas Laing),
Old Masters (James MacArthur),
Peerless, (Duncan Taylor),
Private Collection (Gordon & MacPhail),
Provenance (Douglas Laing),
Station Series (Gordon & MacPhail),
Scotts Selection (Speyside Distillers),
SMWS
The Glenlivet Recent Awards
The Glenlivet 12 Year Old
International Wine & Spirit Competition:
Gold medal 2003, 2005, 2007
Silver medal 2004, 2006
International Spirits Challenge:
Silver medal 2008
San Francisco World Spirits Competition:
Silver medal 2007
The Glenlivet 15 Year Old French Oak Reserve
International Wine & Spirit Competition:
Silver medal 2006, 2007
International Spirits Challenge:
Gold medal 2005- Silver medal 2008
San Francisco World Spirits Competition:
Silver medal 2007, 2008
Spirit of Speyside Whisky Awards:
Trophy 13-20 Year Old category
Whisky Magazine World of Whiskies Awards:Gold medal 2007
The Glenlivet Nadurra 16 Year Old
International Wine & Spirit Competition:
Silver medal 2006, 2007
International Spirits Challenge:
Bronze medal 2008
Spirit of Speyside Whisky Awards:
Trophy 13-20 Year Old category 2008
San Francisco World Spirits Competition:
Gold medal 2008 - Silver medal 2007
The Glenlivet 18 Year Old
International Wine & Spirit Competition:
Gold medal 2002, 2003
Silver Best in Class 2007
Silver medal 2004, 2006
International Spirits Challenge:
Gold medal 2002, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008-Trophy 2006
San Francisco World Spirits Competition:
Double Gold medal 2008
Gold medal 2003 Silver medal 2007
Scottish Field Magazine Whisky Merchants’ Challenge:Distinction 2007
The Glenlivet Archive 21 Year Old
International Wine & Spirit Competition:
Gold medal Best in Class 2005, 2006, 2007 - Gold medal 2004
International Spirits Challenge:
Gold medal 2002 - Bronze medal 2008
San Francisco World Spirits Competition:
Double Gold medal 2007
Whisky Magazine Best of Speyside Awards:Trophy 2005
The Glenlivet XXV 25 Year Old
International Spirits Challenge:
Gold medal 2008
International Wine & Spirit Competition:
Silver medal 2007
Glenlivet Single Malt Whisky 15 years old 40%
George & J.G Smith Label Bottled by Gordon & MacPhail
Tasting Notes...
Colour: Golden.
Neat
Nose: Light with fruit notes - pear drops and caramel aromas.
Palate: Smooth creamy vanilla flavours with fruity notes -raisins and toffee apples with a smoky edge.
With water
Nose: Creamy caramel notes with floral and fragrant aromas - rose petals.
Palate: Fruity notes - raisins with sweet toffee flavours and hints of smokiness
Body: Light and balanced
Finish: Well rounded.
Cask Type: Refill Sherry Casks.
Whisky Style: Elegant and refined - Classic Speyside.
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