1978 Glenlivet, Private Collection, Cask #9044402, G&M, Speyside, Single Malt Scotch Whisky (54.3%)

Glenlivet Distillery Speyside

The Glenlivet Distillery has been founded by George Smith, while his son John Gordon Smith assisted and succeeded him has a long-established reputation for making subtle, elegant and flowery Malt Whisky. 

This famous Speyside distillery by the glen of Livet, which flows in to the mighty river Spey, was the first licensed operation in Scotland when the legal production of whisky was first introduced in 1823.

The company remained independent until 1935, merged with Glen Grant in 1952 and was acquired by Seagram in 1977, which was eventually succeeded by the Pernod-Ricard group in 2001.

Speyside Whisky

To some Speyside represents the jewel in whisky’s crown. Speyside is the home of legal whisky production and it’s best known examples. Around the world Glenlivet, Macallan, Glenfiddich, Glenrothes and Glenfarclas typify all that whisky, at it’s best has to offer. At it’s heart running from the Monadhliath mountains north to the sea, is the River Spey. It is the fastest flowing river in Britain, and also well known for its salmon fishing.

Speyside is the principal whisky-producing region: Speyside has within it some forty-six operating distilleries - over half the total number in the entire Scotland.

Speysides are essentially sweet whiskies. They have little peaty character They are typically highly perfumed, feminine and elegant.

The classical nature of Speyside’s malts means that a number of the finest malts are used almost exclusively for blending. It is the top Speysider’s that give good blends their ‘Top Dressing’. 

Malts such as Mortlach, Glen Elgin, Strathmill and Benrinnes are rarely found as distillery bottlings, however when individual casks are tracked down by independent bottlers such as our Own Selection Single Malt Whiskies the resultant whisky can be quite wonderful.