Glenlivet Distillery was founded in 1824, though the area had been used for illicit whisky distillation long before, the crags and gorges of the Glenlivet region being perfect for smugglers. George Smith was the first Glenlivet distillery to acquire a license to legally distil spirit, a decision which made him unpopular with rivals in the area, forcing him to carry pistols to defend himself and his distillery from disgruntled competitors.
Though Glenlivet Distillery's rivals often attempted to imitate their whisky, they never equalled it and the distillery continues to operate today, nearly 200 years later. Glenlivet Distillery now holds the prestigious position as the top selling single malt whisky in the United States. |
