| The
Glenlivet Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Ballindalloch Banffshire
AB37 9DB Scotland
Tel: +44 (0)1340 821 720
Viewer's Comments about The Glenlivet
 George
Smith knew that Glenlivet was the perfect location in which
to make whisky, which is why he built his distillery there in
1824. But it required all his skills as a distiller and his
unrivalled knowledge of the glen and its resources to succeed.
The Glenlivet of today is George Smith's priceless legacy. Crucially,
the three fundamental elements in the whisky-making process
- spring water, copper stills and oak casks have remained unchanged.
So have the skills have the people who make it. That is why
the Glenlivet is as incomparable now as it was at the beginning.
Chivas Brothers, the Scotch whisky and premium gin business
of Pernod Ricard recently announced (2007) that The Glenlivet
achieved during 2006 its target of 500,000 9L cases set in 2003
when it was selling 375,000 9l cases, a testament to the unerring
commitment of the world’s number two wines and spirits
company to making The Glenlivet single malt Scotch whisky the
global category leader.
The Glenlivet is one of Pernod Ricard’s 15 strategic
global brands and is only the second single malt to ever reach
this sales milestone, which is equivalent to 6 million bottles
sold a year. It is the second most popular premium malt whisky
in the world. The Glenlivet is the number one malt whisky in
the dynamic US market, and is also making significant gains
in Asia-Pacific markets like Taiwan and Japan as well as key
European markets.
In an expanding market, The Glenlivet offers a comprehensive
and differentiated range which has very high impact on shelf.
Under Pernod Ricard’s ownership, the range has undergone
an extensive evolution and has enjoyed strong performances,
especially with the recently released Nàdurra Cask Strength
which has seen excellent sales particularly in the US.
The River Livet
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The Glenlivet portfolio now comprises a core range of 12 Year
Old, 15 Year Old French Oak Reserve and 18 Year Old as well
as the specialist Nàdurra Cask Strength 16 Year Old and
ultra premium 21 Year Old Archive. The Glenlivet Cellar Collection
now boasts seven releases and new expressions are expected to
be introduced.
The pursuit of perfection inherent to the history of the brand
is reflected in the consistent quality of the whisky itself.
It is a taste that has stood the test of time, demonstrated
by the fact that The Glenlivet has won either a trophy or gold
medal every year for the last five years in major competitions.
Most recently, The Glenlivet 18 Year Old scooped a trophy and
gold medal at the 2006 ISC awards and gold medals were awarded
for the 12 Year Old and 21 Year Old at the 2006 IWSC awards.
Courtesy of The Glenlivet |
Color: Light or pale gold.
Nose: Aromatic,
with flowers. Clean and simple, with some maltiness. Sherry
notes, some spice and vanilla.
Body:
Medium, smooth and firm.
Palate:
Subtle peatiness. Delicate. Slightly sweet and fruity,
with vanilla notes. Clean and well-balanced.
Finish: Long, but mild
and warming. A trace of peat at the end. |
Color: Dark amber.
Nose: Full. Some
peat, floral notes, sherry, honey and fruit.
Body: Firm. Quite smooth.
Palate: Full,
round, floral. Some sweetness and quite rich.
Finish: Rich. Drying,
with spice and smoke. |
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One of The Glenlivet's special vintages. 1972 is a unique
vatting of just 10 casks. The newly-made spirit from a
single's day distillation was filled into hogshead on
24 August 1972. This is a perfect combination of distillation
excellence and traditional maturation. The refill hogshead
casks contributes a gentle mature oakiness with sweetness
and gentle spiciness combining beautifully with the fruity,
floral, citrus notes of the distillate. NOSE:
Fruity, reminiscent of a sweet, juicy pear; with the
perfume of heather in bloom; a hint of gentle, sweet
spiciness and citrus with underlying, balanced, mature
wood note
PALATE: A beautiful,
rich fruitiness; velvety smooth; the creaminess of a
warm fudge a gentle whiff of smokiness; a long, smooth
aftertaste of maltiness.
AWARDS: Silver 2006
- International Wine & Spirit Competition
Notes Courtesy of The Glenlivet |
Color: Pale gold with
bright lemony shades.
Nose:
Intense, tickling. Fresh and clean. Resolutely fruity.
Lemon pulp. Green apple. Freshness enhanced by aniseed
fringe. Dreamy note of pralins. in the back, herbal and
spicy notes.
Palate:
Crisp, appetizing. Mouth-coating with an oily feel followed
by a frizzy sensation. Challenging for the tastebuds,
but never burning. Poached peaches in a vanilla syrup.
White chocolate. Aniseed lollipop. Candied ginger.
Finish: Dry, clean,
crisp. Very long. Aniseed. Refreshing. Bitter oranges.
Gingery.
Summary:
Crisp and fresh, fruity and herbal. Superbly balanced.
Full-bodied and enticing. Notes
Courtesy of The Glenlivet |
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Master of Malt is the first
to stock The Glenlivet 70 Year Old Whisky!
Online Retailer Master
of Malt is the first to stock Glenlivet 70 year
old, an extraordinary single malt that was launched
in March 2011. The Scotch, with a price tag of £13,000
a bottle, has been described by critics as "stupendous",
and is one of just two 70 year old single malt whiskies
ever released.
Distilled at the Glenlivet distillery on the 4th February
1940 during the height of the Battle of Britain, the
spirit was filled into a Sherry cask, where it rested
for the last seventy years. During the ageing process,
whisky actually evaporates out of the cask, a phenomenon
known in the industry as "the angel's share".
Because of this, there was only enough liquid for 100
full-sized decanter bottles - adding to its rarity.
The 700ml decanters are on sale at Master of Malt with
a price tag of £13,000, and there are also smaller,
20cl-sized bottles with a price of £3,200 each.
The whisky was bottled in 2011 by the renowned Scotch
whisky brand Gordon and MacPhail, and it is the second
part of their "Generations" series, the first
of which was the world's oldest whisky, a 70 year old
single malt from the Mortlach distillery.
The bottles are presented in hand-blown crystal decanters,
with British hallmarked sterling silver stoppers, and
silver bases. The wooden boxes are handmade out of Scottish
Elm. Famed critic Charlie MacLean describes the whisky:
"Although it resonates with aged character - and,
indeed, characteristics from another era - it retains
vitality, both on the nose and in the mouth."
You can purchase a bottle of Glenlivet
70 Year Old 1940 from Master of Malt for £13,000
HERE!
NOTES: First Fill American
White Oak Sherry Butt Bedded down 1940 during the battle
of Britain, bottled 2010 45.9% Abv - 100 70cl decanters
and 175 20cl bottles.
Released to the melody of 1940's swing music, walked
down the aisle of the Private Suite at Edinburgh Castle
by a Lady in a fur shawl and red dress: The Glenlivet
70 by Gordon & MacPhail.
Nose: At first, the
impact is blood oranges, tangerines and a waxy nature.
Then what follows is vanilla pastries, Jaffa cake jelly,
bananas and a biscuity malty note. Really fresh. It
jumps out of the glass and has such life for something
with such age.
Palate: Slight hint
of ash, slight hint of peat, again an orange jelly and
zestiness. Creamy and slight hints of a Ruby Port.
Finish: Beautiful.
Liqueur chocolates, stewed apples and high-cocoa dark
chocolate. A nice citrusy note followed by the first
taste of dry oak. This tiniest bit of dryness entices
you to taste again. Sadly my sample is all gone.
Distilled in Speyside, Scotland on the 4th February
1940
- Aged in a First Fill American White Oak Sherry Butt
- Bottled with at a strength of 45.9% abv
- 100 x 70cl decanters released, 175 x 20cl decanters
released
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The Glenlivet Whisky Distillery
The Glenlivet Distillery Established
1824 |
Distillery Tour Information
For the attention of The Guardians of The Glenlivet - To ensure
that we give you our best attention and a warm welcome, please
note the following:
•Admittance to the Guardians library and tasting room
will not be permitted unless a telephone reservation has been
made in advance (tel no: +44(0) 1340 821 720)
•Guardians must produce their membership card at reception,
along with their personal Glenlivet Distillery key, in order
to register for their membership privileges.
•Guardians may request for a limited number of guests
to be admitted to the members-only area, though this will be
subject to the distillery management’s discretion on the
day.
•No one under the age of 18 will be admitted.
Opening Times
Visitor centre will open on 29th March through until 29th October.
Tours will be 9.30am till 4pm (Mon-Sat) and noon till 4pm on
Sundays.
Contact The Glenlivet Distillery
Ballindalloch Banffshire
AB37 9DB Scotland
Tel: +44 (0)1340 821 720
Location
B9008, ten miles north of Tomintoul
THE GLENLIVET
THE SINGLE MALT THAT STARTED IT ALL
Lawless Times & the Character of Glenlivet
During the early 1800s, large areas of Scotland were brought
to the brink of anarchy by the activities of whisky smugglers.
Excisemen, armed with pistols and cutlasses, fought bloody battles
with the smugglers. Thousands of illicit distillers were prosecuted
each year and close to 400 people were convicted and fined in
just one sitting by an Inverness Justice of the Peace for breaking
the Excise laws.
By 1820, there continued to be some 200 illicit stills in Glenlivet;
the glen of the Livet reaches deep into the mountains which
separate Speyside from Royal Deeside in the far North-East of
Scotland. Today it is relatively remote; in the 18th and 19th
centuries it was virtually inaccessible and it bred a bold and
self-reliant people who clung to the old tradition of whisky-making.
The whisky made in Glenlivet had the highest reputation of
any in Scotland, for several reasons. First, you can’t
make good whisky in a hurry and the Glen’s remoteness
made it almost impossible to police. Excise officers could be
spotted miles away, leaving plenty of time to hide equipment,
and, more importantly, plenty of time to carry out the distilling.
Second, nature’s essentials for making the finest malt whisky
– barley, peat and a copious supply of good, clean water
– were all abundant. The fertile valley-bottom of Glenlivet
provided barley. The hills around are clad in peat. The water
that rushes down the hills surrounding Glenlivet is perfect: cold,
soft, melted snow. Whisky smugglers would travel from Glenlivet
to the Lowlands on drove roads and across bridges that can still
be found today.
The Legacy of George Smith
It took a remarkable man to break the tradition of illicit distilling:
in 1824 George Smith took the unswerving step from farmer-distiller
to first licenceholder in the glen, the first step on Scotch whisky’s
march to global success.
In those lawless times, he had to go to extraordinary lengths
to protect his life and his property. He armed his brothers with
“two or three stout fellows” whom he employed, and
they mounted a guard on the distillery, night and day, for several
years. In his later years he claimed that he often “had
rough times of it among the glen people,” when he went to
church or visited the market at Tomintoul.
When he went legal he also had to go armed. His former colleagues in the illicit
trade swore they would “burn down his distillery and him
at the heart of it.” But the winds of change were with
him. The fame of his whisky spread even beyond Scotland, nurtured
by his Edinburgh agents who began to market it as Old Vatted
Glenlivet - the very first ‘brand’ of Scotch.
On the back of this success, in 1858 Smith built a new distillery
on a larger site further down the glen, supplied with water
by Josie’s Well, a now legendary spring rich in minerals.
He also invested in a pair of unusually shaped stills, uncommonly
high and wide, of a novel ‘lantern’ design –
both factors which make for increased purity and elegance.
The Reputation of The Glenlivet
The Glenlivet has long been synonymous with the finest single
malt Scotch whisky. In 1822, King George IV made a triumphant
visit to Edinburgh. Sir Walter Scott, who arranged the event,
made sure to procure the best whisky Scotland had to offer for
the King’s delectation: the whisky of Glenlivet. Throughout
his week-long jaunt, the King would drink nothing else, and
by the end it was reported that “he is an admirable judge
of glen livat”. He was not alone in his enjoyment. The
same year, John Stein, one of the leading distillers in Scotland,
wrote enviously: “There are some people in the higher
stations of life who prefer Glenlivet whisky and who would pay
almost any price for it”.
The fame of Glenlivet’s now well-respected fruity, floral
style encouraged other distillers to attach the name to their
own, even though some of them were miles from the Glen itself.
Understandably, George Smith’s son was not happy about
this. In 1884 he obtained a settlement which required that only
his malt can describe itself as ‘The Glenlivet’.
And to this day, there is still only one single malt whisky
that has the unchallengeable right to call itself The Glenlivet.
In fact, almost every Speyside distillery has, at some stage,
used the name Glenlivet.
The Glenlivet in the 20th Century
Maintaining the pioneering instinct, The Glenlivet was the very
first malt to be promoted in the United States: as soon as Prohibition
was lifted in America, George Smith’s great-grandson went
there to promote his whisky, the first single malt ever seen
in the U.S. Over the next few decades it caused such a stir
that he featured on the front page of Time magazine with the
line: ‘The heart of Great Britain’s export trade
is the Scotch whisky industry. The heart of the Scotch industry
is The Glenlivet’. The Pullman Company of Chicago begged
The Glenlivet Distillery for supplies of miniatures for their
luxury trains.
The Glenlivet developed a strong following among Hollywood
stars in the 1950s. Stars like Yul Brynner and Robert Taylor,
who had (to quote the latter) “come to consider all other
brands of Scotch whisky second rate”, insisted that stocks
be available in their hotels – even if they were filming
in Europe.
The Glenlivet’s reputation was not confined to the UK
and the US. In 1956 the manager of the renowned George V Hotel
in Paris wrote to the distillery: “Our President requires,
for his own personal use, a case of 12 bottles of your Glenlivet
12 year old Whisky, as he was agreeably impressed by this whisky
during his recent visit to America.”
For nearly 200 years the legendary whisky of Glenlivet has
been prized, celebrated and fought over. But there is only one
whisky with the unchallengeable right to be called: The Glenlivet:
the single malt that started it all.
Courtesy of The Glenlivet
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