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Malt Whisky Distilleries
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Glenlivet
AB37 9DB
Ballindalloch
Banffshire
Scotland
Phone: +44 (0) 1340 821 720
Website
Up in the hills south of the River Spey the River Livet
or "smooth-flowing one" empties into the Avon
(which is itself a tributary of the great Spey). The remote valley used to be
the hide-out for at least 200 illicit stills, hard at work in the early 1800's.
Today Glenlivet is one of only two working distilleries remaining in the Livet Valley.
In the colder climate way up in the foothills of the Grampians the air
percolates slowly into the oak barrels slowly evolving the spirits soft
character. Some of the production is
used to blend Chivas Regal and Royal Salute. Apart from the extensive range of
official single malt releases and vintages going back to 1940, there are
several independent bottlings.
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Information about the tour at The Glenlivet Single Malt Scotch Whisky Distillery
Tour in short: Location and visitor centre is excellent. New interactive exhibition combined with a first class tour (and it's free!) showing all about the production of The Glenlivet whisky, the bonded warehouse, the history and so on, finished of with a dram. Not to forget the magnificent scenery that surrounds The Glenlivet and the spectacular drive up the valley of the river Livet. Equally recommended for first-timers to the seasoned distillery visitor.
Information for visiting The Glenlivet Single Malt Scotch Whisky Distillery
Travel Directions: The Glenlivet lies down a beautiful road by the River Livet, four miles south of the Bridge of Avon on the A95, turn on the B9008 for Tomintoul and then left after 150yd (at the schoolhouse).
Opening Hours: Visitor centre open: 3rd April- 3rd Nov: Mon-Sat: 09.30-16, Sun: 12-16.
Tour Times: On demand every 20 minutes or so.
Price admission: Free tours.
Shop: Shop with whiskies, books, glasses, shortbread and so on.
Restaurant: Nice coffeeshop with light meals and homebaking.
Parking: Free parking,
Groups: By appointement.
Photography in distillery: No.
Foreign visitor support: Boards with French, German, Italian and Spanish.
Disabled access: Only visitor centre is accessible.
Things of interest regarding The Glenlivet Single Malt Scotch Whisky Distillery
Restaurants nearby:
Things of interest: The Highland cows and the pond with white ducks at the farm next to the Glenlivet Distillery.
Bed & breakfast and hotels nearby:
The whisky from The Glenlivet Single Malt Scotch Whisky Distillery
Tasting notes: The Glenlivet (18 yo 43%) Balanced with
fruit, honey, vanilla with gentle smoke.
The production at The Glenlivet Single Malt Scotch Whisky Distillery
Malt and malting: Slightly peated from independent maltsters.
Distilling and the stills: Washstills: 4,
15.000 litres. Spiritstills: 4, 10.000
litres, tall and slender.
Watersource: Josie’s Well, soft.
Barrels and casks: Sherry and bourbon.
Bond and Warehousing: Ten warehouses on site.
Mashing and fermentation: Mashtun: 1, stainless steel, 12 tons. Washbacks: 8, Oregon Pine, 60.000 litres.
Production: 4, 15.000 litres.
Distillery manager: Bill Lamb.
Owner: Chivas Brothers.
The history of The Glenlivet Single Malt Scotch Whisky Distillery
History of the distillery: The remote valley used to be
the hide-out for at least 200 illicit stills, hard at work in the early 1800's.
In the illicit days the stills in the area produced a almost clear but raw
spirit. Back then nobody cared, it just had to be made and sold - fast. The
stills themselves were cramped and hidden underground, in caves and in barn. The
Crown struggled to rid the Highlands of
illicit distillers, who paid no excise tax. Yet with splendid irony, George IV
insisted on calling for the Glenlivet whisky. As the farmers relied on the
income from illegal whisky production to pay the rent the response was to
reduce duties. George Smith became the first legal distiller in the glen in
1824. In 1858, George and his son James built a bigger distillery where the
present distillery is settled. This time they took adventage of the new railway.
A partnership with the blender Andrew P Usher took the Glenlivet further and exports
were initiated. When George Smith died in 1871 the distillery was passed on to
his son John Gordon who managed to get the exclusive right to use the name “the
Glenlivet” (without any other added word). Glenlivet was amalgamated with Glen
Grant in 1953 and with Longmorn in 1970. In 1958 a fire destroyed the original
buildings except the old floor maltings, last used in 1966. Seagrams (currently
Chivas/Pernod Ricard) acquired Glenlivet in 1978.
Read more about The Glenlivet Single Malt Scotch Whisky Distillery in these books:
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