🥃 The Glenlivet
The Glenlivet is a Speyside single malt Scotch whisky from the valley of the River Livet, started by George Smith after the Excise Act of 1823. The Minmore distillery has run since 1859 and belongs to Pernod Ricard; it is the best-selling single malt in the US by volume.
The Glenlivet is a single malt Scotch whisky brand from Speyside, from the valley of the River Livet. It was started by George Smith, one of the first to obtain a licence after the Excise Act of 1823. Today the distillery at Minmore is run by Chivas Brothers, a division of Pernod Ricard, and by volume The Glenlivet is the best-selling single malt whisky in the United States.
History. The sources give the founding date differently: Difford's Guide says 1824, while Whiskypedia stresses 1859, when a new, larger distillery was opened at Minmore, which is still working. In 1881 the Smith family took legal action against producers who added "Glenlivet" to their names; a compromise was reached only three years later, and in 1884 this distillery obtained the exclusive right to the name "The Glenlivet". Contrary to popular belief, it is not the oldest working distillery in Scotland.
How it is made. The distillery has 14 stills: 7 for the first distillation and 7 for the second, in two stillhouses. The water comes from the spring Josie's Well.
Range. Founder's Reserve is the version without an age statement; there are also Nadurra 16 Year Old, XXV, Alpha and Nadurra Oloroso. For each one, read the label: the strength and the type of casks differ.
Why this matters to you. Scotch whisky is protected: Single Malt means whisky from a single distillery made from water and malted barley, distilled in copper pot stills and aged for at least 3 years. The word "Glenlivet" appears in other names too, but the genuine brand is labelled "The Glenlivet". The WHO reminds us that there is no safe level of alcohol consumption.
Facts
| Year founded | after the Excise Act of 1823; 1824 (Difford's); new distillery at Minmore — 1859 (George Smith) |
|---|---|
| Legal basis | Scotch Whisky Regulations 2009 (SI 2009/2890) (Single Malt Scotch Whisky; Speyside) |
| EU category | 2 — whisky (whisky/whiskey) |
| Raw material | malted barley; water from Josie's Well |
| Distillation method | twice, 14 copper stills (7 + 7) |
| Cask type | oak casks; for Nadurra Oloroso — ex-oloroso sherry casks |
| Minimum maturation | at least 3 years in oak by law; Founder's Reserve carries no age statement |
| Alcohol (% vol.) | 40% ABV or more by law; versions differ |
How it connects to Spirits
🥃 The Glenlivet → kind of → 🥃 Whisky → kind of → 🥃 Spirits
Links
- Previous step
- 🥃 Pernod Ricard
- Packed in
- 🍷 Oak barrel, 🍷 Sherry
- Made from
- 🥃 Barley and malt in whisky
- What it contains
- 🧪 Water, 🍷 Ethanol
- What it affects
- 🍷 Alcohol and health, 🍷 Drunk driving
- Traditions
- 🧑🤝🧑 British
- Part of
- 🥃 Whisky, 🥃 Single Malt Scotch Whisky, 🥃 Scotch Whisky, 🥃 Speyside whisky
- Related to
- 🌍 Western Europe
- Similar and different
- 🥃 Glenfiddich, 🥃 Johnnie Walker, 🥃 Glenfiddich, 🥃 The Balvenie, 🥃 The Balvenie, 🥃 Glenfiddich 21 Year Old Gran Reserva, 🥃 Glen Grant, 🥃 Glen Grant, 🥃 The Famous Grouse, 🥃 The Famous Grouse
Frequently asked questions
Is The Glenlivet really the best-selling single malt in America?
According to the guide's sources, by volume it is the best-selling single malt whisky in the United States.
Is The Glenlivet the oldest distillery in Scotland?
No, despite the popular belief. According to Whiskypedia, the oldest working one is Strathisla, and Glen Garioch may be even older.
What does single malt mean under UK law?
Under the Scotch Whisky Regulations 2009, Single Malt means whisky from a single distillery, made from water and malted barley, distilled in copper pot stills and aged for at least 3 years in oak, at 40% ABV or more.
Was it founded in 1824 or in 1859?
The sources differ. Difford's Guide gives 1824, while Whiskypedia stresses 1859, when the new, larger distillery opened at Minmore, which is still working.
Do other whiskies carry the name Glenlivet?
The word appears in other names too, but the genuine brand is labelled The Glenlivet, a right that only this distillery obtained after the 1884 agreement.
What to read next
- 🍷 Alcohol and health — Alcohol in any drink is harmful in large amounts, and the risks grow with the quantity.
- 🍷 Ethanol — The alcohol formed during fermentation that makes you drunk.
- 🍷 Oak barrel — A wooden vessel made of oak staves in which wine matures, picks up new aromas and slowly takes in air.
- 🍷 Sherry — Protected wine from the Jerez de la Frontera area of Andalusia, aged in oak casks in the solera system; 14 to 22 % alcohol.
- 🌍 Western Europe — France, the Netherlands, Britain, Ireland, Belgium and Luxembourg: a mild, moist climate, pastures and hundreds of cheeses such as Roquefort, Camembert, Gouda and Cheddar.
Similar
🥃 Benrinnes · 🥃 Dailuaine · 🥃 Auchroisk · 🥃 Knockdhu · 🥃 Vat 69 · 🥃 Tamdhu
⚠️ Spirit drinks contain alcohol and are for adults only. Alcohol harms health. Do not drink during pregnancy or before driving; check the label for ingredients and possible allergens.
What it includes
Sources
- The Scotch Whisky Regulations 2009 (SI 2009/2890), reg. 3: definition and categories of Scotch Whisky (Scotland, oak up to 700 l, min. 3 years, min. 40 % ABV)
- Scotchwhisky.com (Whiskypedia): The Glenlivet (Minmore 1859, 14 stills, Josie's Well, 1881-1884 name dispute, Chivas Brothers)
- Difford's Guide: The Glenlivet Distillery (established 1824, Smith family, Pernod Ricard)
- WHO/Europe: No level of alcohol consumption is safe for our health (04.01.2023)