Latest News: In December 2014 Chivas Brothers announced to triple its production facilities at The Glenlivet Distillery.

George Smith build the distillery in 1824. His landlord, the Duke of Gordon, who was active in drafting the Excise Act of 1823 (or Wash Act), convinced Smith to change from an illicit distiller to a licenced honoured producer of whisky. The place he selected was perfect, the water was supplied by a spring later called Josie‘s Well.

George Smith‘s skills in distilling produced a whisky which became very famous at his time. The Glenlivet was a synonym for excellent whisky in those days as it is today. The smooth rich taste with its floral style made this whisky so special.

Robert Louis Stevenson, the author of Treasure Island, praised the single malt from Minmore in the poem „The Scotsman‘s Return from Abroad“: „The King o‘ drinks as I conceive it.“

The Glenlivet - the original Speyside - is now number two in the world ranking of bestselling single malts and number one seller in the U.S. (2010). In 2010 The Glenlivet Distillery sold 700.000 cases of malt whisky around the world and struggled with The Macalllan over the second position.

Today The Glenlivet Distillery is among the largest in the industry. Production capacity was expanded in 2009-2010 from an annual capacity of 5.9 million litres to about 10.5 million litres of alcohol. A new Briggs full lauter mash tun, eight new wooden Oregon Pine washbacks and three more pairs of pot stills were installed. The old mash tun, the old washbacks and the stills were retained for production. The refurbishment was inaugurated by His Royal Highness The Prince of Wales on 4th June, 2010.

In July, 2011 a new malt mill, a six roller Bühler Maltomat 2 DBZG (manufactured in Braunschweig, Germany), was installed and replaced the 1962 Porteus mill. „There are only two Bühler Maltomat 2 in the U.K.,“ says Distillery Manager Hamish Proctor (2011), „the second one is at a brewery in Manchester.“ The mill grinds 12.6 tonnnes of malt within 2 hours and 10 minutes. „We do 6 to 7 mashes a day with our new Briggs mash tun,“ says Richard Clerk, Operation Manager. See: www.buhlergroup.com/global/de/produkte/malzschrotmuehle-maltomat-2-dbzg.htm, see also fact sheet in English

http://www.buhlergroup.com/northamerica/downloads/Brochure_Pitstop_DBZG_EN.pdf

In Spring 2011 Gordon & MacPhail bottled a 70 year old The Glenlivet which had been distilled on 3rd February 1940 and had aged in a first fill Sherry butt. Only 100 70cl decanter bottles and 175 20cl bottles of this exceptional wartime distilled whisky were released under the Generations Brand at cask strength (45,90 % A.B.V.) with a recommended retail price in the UK of 13.000 Pounds and 3.200 Pounds respectively. It has been one of the oldest whisky bottled in the world up to 2011 (see also Mortlach Distillery).

Distillery Manager: Trevor Buckley (April 2012), Master Distiller: Alan Winchester (2010)

There is a welcoming excellent visitor centre with a nice coffee shop. The Guardians of Glenlivet meet in luxurious tasting lounge which is called The Library. Two tours are offered: The General Tour (free) and the Ambassador Tour (advance booking). The tour is through the new extension of the distillery only.

„2014 was our busiest season in the last 20 years and we were delighted to welcome over 50,000 guests to our beautiful distillery,“ says Visitor Centre SupervisorJenna Mitchell.

There is also a The Guardians Whisky School managed by Ian Logan, International Ambassador of the Glenlivet, which is only available to The Guardians of The Glenlivet.

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