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THE GLENLIVET DISTILLERY
The most famous whisky-making glen in Scotland is that of the small River Livet, which flows into the Spey. Among the distilling districts, it is the one most deeply set into the mountains. Its water rises from granite, and frequently flows underground for many miles. The mountain setting also provides for the weather that whisky makers like. When distilling is in progress, the condensers work most effectively if cooled by very cold water, and in a climate to match. The malt whiskies made in the area are on the lighter side, very clean, flowery, subtle, and elegant. The Livet’s fame also has historical origins, in the period when Highlanders were permitted to distil only on a domestic scale. The purported justification was a shortage of grain, but there was also a question of political vindictiveness. At that time, this relatively remote mountain glen was a famous nest of illicit distillation. After legalization in 1824, the legendary spirit “from Glenlivet” was greatly in demand among merchants in the cities to the south. Only one distillery in the area is permitted to call itself The Glenlivet. This is the distillery that was the first to become legal, and it now has an international reputation. The definite article is restricted even further in that it appears on only the official bottlings from the owning company of The Glenlivet distillery, Chivas. These carry the legend “Distilled by George & J. G. Smith” in small type at the bottom of the label, referring to the father and son who established the original business. When the legalization of distillers was proposed by the Duke of Gordon, one of his tenants, George Smith, already an illicit whisky maker, was the first to apply for a license. His son John Gordon Smith, assisted and succeeded him. After distilling on two sites nearby, in 1858 the Smiths moved to the present location, Minmore, near the point where the Livet and Avon meet. The distillery stands at a point where the grassy valley is already beginning to steepen towards the mountains. In 1880, the exclusive designation “The Glenlivet” was granted in a test case. The company remained independent until 1953, when it came under the same ownership as Glen Grant. In the 1960s, considerable quantities of the whisky were acquired by Gordon and MacPhail, leading to subsequent bottlings by them. These very old and sometimes vintage-dated versions are identified as George and J. G. Smith’s Glenlivet Whisky. The Glenlivet, Glen Grant, and Longmorn, and the blenders Chivas, were acquired by the North American and worldwide drinks group Seagram in 1977, since when the official bottlings have been energetically promoted. The Glenlivet has become the biggest-selling single malt in the large American market. By virtue of its substantial sales, The Glenlivet might be deemed commonplace, but it is a whisky of structure and complexity. It is distilled from water with a dash of hardness, and the peating of the malt is on the light side. About a third of the casks used have at some stage held sherry, though the proportion of first-fill is considerably smaller than that. Glenlivet is believed to be planning a Cognac-finish edition. HOUSE STYLE Single Malt Scotch, Irish Whiskey, Bourbon, Rye Whisky, Canadian Whisky, Cognac and Tequila all available for purchase online to Michigan residents only |
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