Glenlivet

Perched above the picturesque River Livet, the Glenlivet distillery, founded in 1824, stands as a testament to both tradition and innovation. Situated in the heart of Speyside, it has evolved into one of the region's most modern distilleries. Glenlivet was among the first to secure a license following the 1823 Excise Act, a milestone in the history of Scotch whisky. George Smith, the founder, transitioned from illicit distillation to legitimate production, aided by his landlord, the Duke of Gordon. His journey was fraught with danger as whisky smuggling gangs were widespread, but Smith's success lay in creating the Glenlivet whisky, appreciated for its lighter style even then.

In 1859, the distillery moved to its current site at Minmore, continuing its legacy. Glenlivet's name had become synonymous with Speyside whiskies, inspiring others to append 'Glenlivet' to their distillery names, which later led to trademark disputes. In 1881, George's grandson, George Smith Grant, resolved the issue by allowing others to use 'Glenlivet' with a hyphen, while the distillery retained the name 'The Glenlivet.' A merger with Glen Grant occurred in 1952, followed by another with Hill, Thomson & Co. and the Longmorn/Benriach distilleries in 1953. Seagram acquired the distillery in 1978, propelling Glenlivet to become the best-selling single malt in the United States, a position it still holds today.

In 2001, Seagram's assets were divided between Pernod Ricard and Diageo, with Pernod Ricard overseeing the Scotch division, renaming it Chivas Brothers. In subsequent years, Glenlivet experienced substantial growth, with a £10 million investment in 2011 that increased its production capacity by 75%. Today, The Glenlivet is a global whisky icon, with sales surpassing a million cases annually, marking a remarkable transformation from its modest beginnings as an illicit distillery in the Scottish Highlands.