GLENLIVET
| Distillery Opened | Capacity | Malting Floor | Washback Type | Number of Washbacks | Number of Spirit Stills | Number of Wash Stills |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1824 | 10.5 Million litres | / | Wood | 16 | 7 | 7 |
The Glenlivet distillery is a distillery near Ballindalloch in Moray, Scotland that produces single malt Scotch whisky. It is the oldest legal distillery in the parish of Glenlivet, and the production place of the Scottish whisky of the same name.
Glenlivet was founded in 1824 and has operated almost continuously since. Glenlivet remained open throughout the Great Depression and its only closure came during World War II. The Glenlivet distillery has grown in the post-war period to become one of the biggest single malt distilleries in order to keep up with global demand; The Glenlivet brand is the biggest selling single malt whisky in the United States and the second biggest selling single malt brand globally.
Today, Glenlivet is owned by the French alcoholic beverages company Pernod Ricard and they oversee the distillery's production of 10,500,000 proof litres per annum.The majority of this is sold as The Glenlivet single malt, with the remainder being used in Pernod Ricard's blended whisky brands.
Glenlivet is categorised as a Speyside distillery. As of 2016, The Glenlivet range consists of 13 whiskies. The distillery draws water from Josie's Well and other springs a short distance from the distillery. The malt comes from Crisp Maltings, Portgordon. Glenlivet 's stills are lantern shaped with long, narrow necks, all of which helps to produce a light tasting spirit. The main product range from the distillery is The Glenlivet
range of single malt scotch whisky, but whisky from the distillery is
also used in the production of Pernod Ricard's other brands, including
Chivas Regal and Royal Salute whisky brands.
The distillery has 7 wash stills each with a capacity of 15,000 litres and 7 spirit stills with a capacity of 10,000 litres. The spirit is then matured in oak casks. In 2008, The Glenlivet announced expansion plans for
the distillery to keep up with increased demand. This includes the
installation of a new mash tun, new stills and new wash backs.
Bottling of The Glenlivet took place at a Chivas Brothers bottling plant at Newbridge just outside Edinburgh, but that plant was sold at the end of 2009 with bottling to be transferred to other Chivas Brothers plants.
- 1774: Andrew Smith starts distilling at Upper Drummin Distillery.
- 1817: George Smith inherits Upper Drummin Distillery.
- 1850: George builds a second distillery nearby Delnabo.
- 1858: George buys Minmore farm.
- 1859: Distillery nearby Delnabo closed. George opens a new larger distillery called Glenlivet.
- 1864: George starts to export Glenlivet whisky.
- 1871: John Gordon Smit inherits Glenlivet.
- 1896: Two stills added to Glenlivet.
- 1953: Glenlivet merges with Glen Grant.
- 1966: Glenlivet closes floor maltings.
- 1970: Glenlivet & Glen Grant Distillers merges with Longmorn-Glenlivet Distilleries and Hill Thomson & Co. to form The Glenlivet Distillers Ltd.
- 1978: Seagram buys The Glenlivet Distillers.
- 2001: Pernod Ricard buy Seagram's scotch division (Chivas Brother).
- 2006: The Glenlivet Nadurra 16 year old is released.
- 2007: Glenlivet XXV is released.
- 2009: Four more stills are installed in Glenlivet.
- 2010: Glenlivet Founder's Reserve is released. Another two stills are installed.
- 2016: The Glenlivet Cipher and the second edition of the 50 year old are launched.
