The Glenlivet Distillery: History, Owner, Range and Visitor Guide
Updated: 2 days ago
The Glenlivet has a claim few distilleries can match: it was the first to take out a licence under the Excise Act of 1823 and go legal in a glen full of illicit stills. This expanded guide covers the full story, the owners, the trademark fight over its name, the range, the bicentenary releases and how to find out about a visit.
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The Glenlivet at a glance
Distillery fact | Verified information |
|---|---|
Location | Ballindalloch, Livet Valley, Speyside |
Established | 1824, George Smith |
Owner | Chivas Brothers / Pernod Ricard |
Region | Speyside, Scotland |
Principal single malt range | The Glenlivet 12 Year Old Double Oak; The Glenlivet 15 Year Old French Oak Reserve; The Glenlivet 18 Year Old Batch Reserve; The Glenlivet Founder's Reserve |
Visiting | Official visitor centre offers bookable tours and tastings; check current opening and prices |
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The Glenlivet history, people and production
Where is The Glenlivet distillery?
The distillery is near Ballindalloch in Moray, in the Speyside region of Scotland. It takes its name from the Glenlivet valley, and the stills sit within the area of the River Livet.
The Glenlivet history
Before 1824: an illicit distilling valley
In the early 19th century the Glenlivet area was known for illicit distilling, and its whisky had a reputation for quality. Wikipedia reports that during a visit to Scotland in 1822, King George IV reportedly asked for Glenlivet whisky.
1824: George Smith goes legal
The Excise Act of 1823 made legal distilling possible with a licence. George Smith, a tenant farmer at Upper Drummin who had been distilling illicitly, became the first in the Livet valley to take one, in 1824. The distillery was established at Upper Drummin by George Smith and his youngest son John Gordon Smith.
The decision was unpopular with neighbours who were still distilling illegally. Threats were made against Smith, and the Duke of Gordon is said to have given him two pistols for protection. Wikipedia says Smith reportedly carried pistols.
1830s to 1850s: Andrew Usher and early blends
Andrew Usher of Edinburgh began distributing Glenlivet whisky in the 1830s, became its agent in 1844 and in 1853 introduced Old Vatted Glenlivet, one of the first commercial blended whiskies, according to Wikipedia. Glenlivet was used both as a single malt and as a blending component through the 19th century.
1858 to 1859: fire and the move to Minmore
By the mid 1850s Smith was running two sites, and plans were made for a larger distillery at Minmore. The old Upper Drummin distillery was destroyed by fire in 1858, which sped up the move, and production started at Minmore in 1859.
1859 to 1884: the fight over the name
By the mid 19th century several distilleries were using Glenlivet as a suffix to their own names. George Smith and John Gordon Smith filed the name Glenlivet at Stationers' Hall in London in 1859. George Smith died in 1871 and John Gordon Smith inherited the business. After the Trade Marks Registration Act of 1875 John Gordon Smith applied for formal protection, and a High Court ruling in 1884 gave the Smith distillery exclusive use of the definite article, The Glenlivet. Other distilleries could use Glenlivet only hyphenated with their own name.
20th century
After Prohibition ended in the United States in 1933, The Glenlivet was among the early single malts promoted in the American market, and family members including Bill Smith Grant developed export markets, per Wikipedia.
The distillery stayed open through the Great Depression. Its only closure came in the Second World War by government decree, and output was back at pre-war levels by 1947.
1952: the family ownership ended. In 1953 the company merged with Glen Grant to form The Glenlivet and Glen Grant Distillers.
Seagram bought the company in 1977 (Wikipedia gives 1978 for the brand joining Seagram, so sources differ by a year).
2000 to 2001: after Seagram's alcohol interests were split up, the brand passed to Pernod Ricard as part of Chivas Brothers.
2014 to 2025: sales and the bicentenary
2014: the International Wine and Spirits Record (IWSR) reported 1.065 million nine-litre cases sold, the highest volume among single malt Scotch that year.
2024: the bicentenary of the first licence was marked with limited releases, including a 12 Year Old limited edition and the 55 Year Old that began The Eternal Collection.
2025: the 56 Year Old became the second release in The Eternal Collection, and the Jamaica Edition launched with a Nicholas Daley collaboration.
Who owns The Glenlivet?
The Glenlivet is owned by Chivas Brothers, a subsidiary of Pernod Ricard.
How The Glenlivet is made
Water: Josie's Well and Blairfindy Well, close to the distillery.
Stills: 14 copper pot stills, seven wash stills of 15,000 litres and seven spirit stills of 10,000 litres. The stills are lantern shaped with long, narrow necks.
Malt: supplied by Crisp Maltings at Portgordon.
Casks: American oak and French oak are named among the cask types.
The Glenlivet whisky expressions compared
These distillery expressions have been documented in producer catalogues or specialist sources. Limited editions, vintages and market strengths are not interchangeable. Whisky Clan has not independently tasted or rated every bottle in this table.
Named whisky expression | Age | Listed ABV | Maturation / release |
|---|---|---|---|
The Glenlivet 12 Year Old Double Oak | 12 years | 40% | American and European oak |
The Glenlivet 15 Year Old French Oak Reserve | 15 years | 40% | French Limousin oak influences a selected proportion |
The Glenlivet 18 Year Old Batch Reserve | 18 years | Check label | Selected first-fill American and European oak; proof varies by market |
The Glenlivet Founder's Reserve | NAS | 40% | American oak with first-fill bourbon influences |
The Glenlivet 21 Year Old Archive | 21 years | Check label | Selected oak casks; specific edition may differ |
The Glenlivet featured whisky bottle
An example of a named distillery bottling. Label and packaging can change between releases and markets.
How does The Glenlivet whisky taste?
The distillery's reported character is influenced by its stills, fermentation, oak and age. Exact nose, palate and finish notes depend on the named bottle, age and cask; consult the official source for the release before treating a style description as an individual tasting review.
Limited bottles, awards and collector information
Limited editions, festival bottlings and older single casks can appear under the same distillery name. The bottle table distinguishes established expressions from historic or less widely available releases. Award claims should always be tied to a named expression, competition and year; none are implied for the entire range here.
Where to buy The Glenlivet whisky
Availability, pricing, bottle formats and distribution vary between the UK, US, Canada, Australia and Europe. The official catalogue linked below is the best starting point for identifying a whisky, but no live retailer stock is guaranteed.
Visiting The Glenlivet Distillery
Official visitor centre offers bookable tours and tastings; check current opening and prices.
More Speyside distillery guides
Explore the styles and histories of other distilleries we've covered at Whisky Clan.
Glenfiddich: Explore its whisky heritage, production and expressions
Balvenie: Explore its whisky heritage, production and expressions
Mortlach: Explore its whisky heritage, production and expressions
Glendullan: Explore its whisky heritage, production and expressions
Dufftown: Explore its whisky heritage, production and expressions
Help us improve this distillery guide
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More distilleries in Speyside Scotland
Read about other producers in this region.
Frequently asked questions about The Glenlivet
Where is The Glenlivet made?
Near Ballindalloch in Moray, Speyside, Scotland.
Who owns The Glenlivet?
Chivas Brothers, part of Pernod Ricard.
When was The Glenlivet founded?
1824, by George Smith and his son John Gordon Smith.
Why is it called The Glenlivet?
It is named for the Glenlivet valley. The definite article was granted to the Smith distillery by a High Court ruling in 1884.
Why did the distillery move to Minmore?
The original Upper Drummin site was destroyed by fire in 1858, and a larger distillery at Minmore started production in 1859.
Sources and image credits
Image of The Glenlivet Distillery. Photo: Ann Harrison via Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 2.0). Photo source · Licence
Featured photograph: existing The Glenlivet distillery photograph from Whisky Clan's original site media. Please contact Whisky Clan with any additional attribution details or corrections.
Featured photograph: The Glenlivet Distillery photograph by Craig Wallace, 14 April 2013; CC BY-SA 2.0. Cropped for the cover.
About the author
 | Filip Janczak Storyteller, drinker and explorer of all things whisky. Read more about the person behind Whisky Clan and explore additional reviews and distillery guides. |
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