The Glenlivet
The Glenlivet
Speyside and mineral water from Cairngorms National Park, distilled in traditional lantern-shaped stills and then matured in oak casks, giving The Glenlivet its smooth, rich and fruity flavor.
Derived from its huge success, The “Glenlivet” name was used not only by Smith but by many distilleries in the area now known as Speyside (and sometimes further afield) to describe their whisky’s origins and—by extension, thanks to the popularity of Smith’s Glenlivet—quality. Smith’s son won the trademark to “The Glenlivet” in 1884, but rival distillers were allowed to add “Glenlivet” after their name on the label (e.g. Glen Moray-Glenlivet), a practice that persisted for well over a century. The name “Glenlivet” became recognizable for its high quality attributes and shorthand for a certain style of single malt.
The Glenlivet Founders Reserve
To truly capture the essence of George Smith’s vision, The Glenlivet Founder’s Reserve has been created using the time-honored distillation methods that he introduced so long ago. Made with water from the same crystal-clear mountain streams, in the same cold, pure air, The Glenlivet Founder’s Reserve is as smooth and fruity as the whisky that first ran from the original copper pot stills.
When George Smith began distilling, The Glenlivet had no age statements and he selected whisky from casks of a range of ages. We have replicated this freedom with The Glenlivet Founder’s Reserve, selecting whisky from a variety of traditional aged oak casks. Then, to lend a modern twist to the flavor of the expression, Master Distiller Alan Winchester marries together a selection of the aged oak casks and American first-fill oak casks. American first-fill oak casks are those that have never before been used to mature whisky. Selective use of these casks provides a smooth, creamy sweetness that mingles harmoniously with the delicate flavors and complex fruity tones already present in the whisky.
The Glenlivet 12 Year Old
This whisky has been called a lot of things in its time: smooth, fruity, complex, sophisticated, entertaining, and classic. The Original Malt Whisky Almanac says: “A first-class malt. One of the most popular malts in the world – deservedly so.” Representing The Glenlivet’ s signature style, this classic malt is first matured in traditional oak, before spending time in American oak casks which impart notes of vanilla and gives the whisky its distinctive smoothness. The mineral-rich water that comes from Josie’s well helps form the flavors during mashing and fermentation, whilst the specific height and width of the copper stills add a delicate yet complex character. Keep a bottle on hand for every occasion.
The Glenlivet Captain’s Reserve
Meet The Glenlivet Captain Reserve, a combination of raisin-rich cognac and signature citrus notes married with the creamy smoothness of our one and only, The Glenlivet.
The luscious liquid finds its unique honey and spicy notes through its journey from bourbon and sherry casks to a selective finish in Cognac casks. Bursting in sweet and fruity aromas, The Glenlivet Captain’s Reserve shines as a proud celebration of our Speyside craft, taking you on a golden adventure that begins with the finish. Inspired by Captain Bill Smith Grant, great-grandson of our Founder George Smith, our new product will make you wander through the misty glens of Scottish Speyside to the rolling vineyards of French Cognac at every sip. A new taste exploration by The Glenlivet that makes us the whisky.
The Glenlivet 15 Year Old
The 15 Year Old gets its distinctive rich and exotic character from a process of selective maturation in which a proportion of the spirit is matured in French oak casks. In fact, we at The Glenlivet were one of the first to use French oak for making whisky, a technique that has since been imitated the world over. The Limousin oak we use is cut in France’s Dordogne region, where it’s often used to mature cognacs. Its low density allows whisky to sink deep into the wood, and we carefully control how long the whisky matures in the casks so as not to overpower the desired result: a unique, pleasing spiciness.
The Glenlivet 18 Year Old
Over the course of 18 years our Master Distiller, Alan Winchester, takes this expression through a combination of cask types, including both first and second-fill American oak (for tropical fruitiness) and ex-sherry oak (for spicy complexity). The result of this deft navigation of the distilling arts is a gorgeous single malt that is complex, yet elegant and balanced. The 18 Year Old has won more awards than any other expression; every bottle is a true example of the quality and taste of The Glenlivet. Any bottle deserves pride of place in your cabinet… perhaps to be held back for a fitting occasion? It is, after all, crafted to impress.
The Glenlivet 21 Year Old
Meticulously crafted over its 21 years, this whisky is put through a combination of hand-selected American oak and ex-sherry casks, which impart the distinctive flavor of dried fruits and a bold richness, vibrant intensity and long finish.
Each cask is hand-selected and individually nosed and approved, and every batch has its own special nuances, making it a rare and unique liquid indeed. Aromas are beautifully melted, resonant with dried fruit from the sherry cask, but with spicy hints of cinnamon and ginger.
The Glenlivet 25 Year Old
Using some of the rarest of our whiskies, all of which have been aged for at least 25 years, this is a batch-produced whisky finished in ex-sherry butts. Our team of experts individually select each cask and monitor the whisky in its finishing process to make sure the Oloroso-soaked wood adds the subtlest sherry tones to an intense, silky and elegant whisky. This molten amber liquid is nearly as splendid to hold in your hand as it is to drink. Afterwards, the finish is incredibly long, rich and balanced. But it’s the nose on the 25 Year Old that really drives whisky-lovers to distraction – with scents of bittersweet dark chocolate and plump, sweet sultana. This opulent whisky, the oldest expression in The Glenlivet’ s core range, is a sublime choice to mark special occasions.
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