George Smith was born at Upper Drumin, Glenlivet on 8 March. His parents were Alexander Smith who married Margaret Gordon in 1776. George had five brothers and two sisters.

George Smith married Helen Stuart (c.1793-1845) in 1817 and they had three children, William (1817-1846) Margaret (1820-1880) and John Gordon (1825-1901).

Kings George IV visited Edinburgh for the first time and according to Memoirs of a Highland Lady 1797 – 1830, Elizabeth Grant writes, “The whole country went mad…Sir Walter Scott and the Town Council were overwhelming themselves with the preparations. Lord Conyngham, The Chamberlain, was looking everywhere for pure Glenlivet whisky; the King drank nothing else. My father sent word to me – I was the cellarer – to empty my pet bin, where was whisky long in wood, long in uncorked bottles, mild as milk, and the true contraband gout in it. The whisky…went up to Holyrood House, and was graciously received and made much of.”

An Excise Act is passed that encourages distillers to buy a licence by reducing licence fees, duty and size of still.

George Smith goes to Elgin and buys a licence for his distillery at Upper Drumin becoming the first licensed distillery in the Glenlivet Valley.
The licence image on left is from a later licence from 1855.

To discover how the distillery has grown over the years click the button below.

George Smith rents Delnabo estate and builds another distillery.

In May 1852, Charles Dicken writes to his friend about a sample of ‘rare old Glenlivet’ given to him by a man who was ‘supposed to be unparalleled in his whisky education.’
He writes, ‘Try the accompanying specimen, and drink some as heartily as I will drink to you.’

In 1853, a new Act permitted vatting under bond for individual distilleries and The Spirit Act of 1860 paved the way for whiskies from different distilleries to be blended without payment of duty. It is believed that Andrew Usher & Co. introduced a blended whisky known as ‘Old Vatted Glenlivet Whisky’ at this time.

George Smith closed both distilleries and built a new distillery at Minmore, the site of the distillery today. George joined with his son John Gordon and ‘George and J.G. Smith Co.’ was created.
To follow the ownership of the distillery to present day click the button below.

George Smith dies (Nov 27) at the age of 79 and his son, John Gordon, inherits the distillery.

George and J.G. Smith register their trademark’ Glenlivet’. Others also trademark ‘Glenlivet’ and George and J.G. Smith take legal action against them.

The Indenture of 1884 is an important landmark in the heritage of Glenlivet. It represents a 60 year struggle by George and John Gordon Smith and their courage and determination to protect the name of their distillery, their whisky and their reputation.
To discover the story of the Indenture click the button below.

John Gordon Smith secures the waters of Josie’s well.

First telephone is installed at the distillery followed by electric lighting the following year when two more stills were also installed.

George and J.G. Smith apply to trademark a new whisky label with the words ‘The Glenlivet’ and soon file it in several countries.

Right after prohibition ended in the USA, Captain Bill Smith Grant went to the USA and made agreements to export Glenlivet whisky into the country.

Follow the evolution of The Glenlivet 12 year old packaging from the 1940s by clicking on the box below.

USA Pullman Company sends telegram to the distillery asking to re-supply The Glenlivet miniatures for their trains after WWII. New markets open in the USA due to this exposure.

Floor maltings close at the distillery and malted barley is now brought to the distillery by commercial maltsters.

The Glenlivet Visitor Centre opened in 1978, providing a venue to welcome tourists and trade visitors. By 1983 over 40,000 visitors were coming to the distillery. It was refurbished in 1997.

The Glenlivet begins global advertising reflecting the heritage of the Brand.

Pernod Ricard acquires Chivas Brothers from Seagram and with it The Glenlivet.

The Glenlivet announce global success after selling over 1 million cases to become the world’s No. 1 single malt Scotch whisky brand. Today it is No. 2 in the single malt category and is the number one single malt in the US, the world’s largest single malt market.

Photo of Master Distiller Alan Winchester in warehouse.

Due to increased demand, expansion continues with a new still house with 8 stills bringing the total number of stills to 29 and a capacity of 20.5 million litres OLA.