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One of the award-winning Speyside malts, The Glenlivet Whiskey has been a benchmark for excellence in quality and flavor for more than two hundred years, highly regarded by royalty and true connoisseurs of Scottish malts.
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History of Glenlivet Whiskey
Glenlivet is credited with starting the spread and rise in popularity of single malt scotch. The first spirits at the illegal distillery founded by George Smith in the secluded valley of the Livet River were made at the beginning of the XNUMXth century.
In 1822, during an official visit to Scotland, King George IV tried them and was pleasantly surprised. It was this period that was taken as a starting point in the history of the enterprise, although whiskey production began here much earlier, and the brand received its usual name a little later.
In 1824, George legalized the business, becoming the region’s first holder of a license to make scotch tape. At that time, it was a bold and risky step that caused dissatisfaction with local smugglers. The threats of underground producers forced the owner of the only official distillery to constantly go armed. Nevertheless, the farm survived, and by the 30s it not only significantly increased its capacity, but also became famous far beyond Scotland.
In the 80s, after the death of George, the work of a fearless father was continued by his son John. It was he who achieved the right to be called the honorary name “THE Glenlivet” for family products. The article in this case was intended to emphasize the exceptional nature of the drinks.
Having adequately survived the trials in the form of the Second World War and the American Prohibition, the distillery continued to delight fans of good scotch with high-quality alcohol. Product promotion was facilitated by the conclusion of a contract with the railway company “The Pullman Train”, thanks to which Glenlivet was known around the world.
By the middle of the XNUMXth century, the brand accounted for half of the sales of Scotch whiskey in the United States, which led to another expansion of the enterprise. And this was just another step on the way to worldwide fame. Today, the brand is the second most popular single malt scotch in the world. Having changed several owners during the XNUMXth century, the plant became part of the alcohol giant Pernod Ricard.
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The specifics of the production of whiskey Glenlivet
The secret of The Glenlivet’s unique smooth taste, filled with distinct fruitiness and subtle sweetness, is based on quality ingredients and following the precepts of George Smith.
The main principle is the “slowness” of production: the lack of haste makes the whiskey fragrant and ensures the constancy of shades.
The traditional production technology of “Glenlivet” implies:
Refusal to use peat during the drying of malt, grinding barley in small batches, which allows emphasizing the natural grain notes in the bouquet, gives them the opportunity to open up to the maximum.
The incorporation of crystal clear mineral-rich water from the local source “Josie’s Well”, located on a hill next to the distillery.
Fermentation of the wort in large tanks made of Oregon pine wood instead of the usual stainless steel vessels.
Distillation in copper stills of a special design, allowing to “cut off” only the lightest, thinnest alcohols.
Long “slow” aging in European and American oak barrels, developing sweet fruity notes and giving drinks a variety of flavors. 20-30-year maturation of spirits is not the limit for the brand’s branded tapes.
The use of cold filtration, which guarantees perfect purification from impurities.
Overview of Glenlivet Whiskeys
On account of the popular brand – several dozen drinks. The main line of “The Glenlivet” includes the following adhesive tapes:
12 YEARS
Balanced whiskey of a bright golden hue with a fruity aroma and taste, aged in two types of barrels.
The bouquet has distinct accents of pineapple and vanilla.
Finish: long, creamy, smooth.
It is recommended to combine with fried sea scallops.
15 YEARS
An outstanding deep gold color scotch aged in French barrels.
Aroma: rich, buttery, creamy.
Taste: exotic, fruity-nutty with a lingering finish of almonds and spices.
Good in combination with fragrant game dishes.
18 YEARS
An elegant golden apricot whiskey for special occasions.
Aged in two types of barrels: American and sherry.
The aroma is dominated by notes of toffee and citrus fruits.
Taste: balanced, with accents of sweet orange.
Finish: long, raisin-spicy.
Perfect gastronomic pairings: filet mignon and foie gras.
21 YEARS
A unique full-bodied drink of amber-copper color, aged in selected American and Spanish barrels.
The aroma warms with notes of sherry and dried fruit.
Taste: sweet, with hints of cinnamon and ginger.
Finish: warm, persistent, with hints of roasted hazelnuts.
It is best revealed in combination with chocolate and fruit desserts.
25 YEARS
An amazing multi-faceted amber-colored tape with light golden highlights. Aged in sherry casks.
The aroma is dominated by tones of dark chocolate and raisins.
Taste: silky, sweetish, with hints of cinnamon and a long balanced finish.
Among the most famous collections of the brand: an exclusive series of cask-strength whiskey “Nadurra Oloroso” and a rare line of 50-year-old single malts “Winchester Vintage”.
Interesting Facts
The Glenlivet single malts are the benchmark for other Speyside single malts. When creating drinks, Scottish scotch producers are guided by the high standards set by the brand’s meters. The motto is the words of one of the Smiths, Captain Bill Grant: “If we cannot make good whiskey, we should not make it at all.”
Prior to excise taxes, the drinks produced at the George Smith distillery did not have a permanent name and were often counterfeited. One of the variants of the name was the phrase “mountain dew”.
In the 50s of the XIX century, Charles Dickens, who spoke enthusiastically about the brand’s products and recommended the “rare old Glenlivet” to his friends, became a fan of the legendary scotch.
Alcohols “Glenlivet” are part of many well-known blends, for example, the elite line “Chivas Regal”.
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Relevance: 18.04.2019
Tags: Whiskey and bourbon, Whiskey brands