The Glenlivet 17 Year Old Single Malt Scotch Whisky (Signatory Bottling)

The Glenlivet 17 Year Old Single Malt Scotch Whisky (Signatory Bottling)

During the 19th century, illegal distilleries were commonplace throughout Scotland. In response, Parliament passed the Whisky Excise Act of 1823, which permitted distilleries in Scotland to distill whisky in exchange for a license that cost 10 and subjected each liter of whisky produced to a special tax. The following year, a businessman named George Smith applied for one of the first licenses in the Speyside region of Scotland and opened the doors to The Glenlivet Distillery. Distillers throughout Scotland were furious at Smith and often threatened his life they believed that by applying for a license, Smith legitimized the tax. Due to the threats on his life, Smith was forced to carry with him a pair of hair-trigger pistols, which he fired in self-defense on more than one occasion. Since then, The Glenlivet Distillery has been producing the "single malt whisky that started it all." The Glenlivet Single Malt Whisky is made using barley sourced from Crisp Maltings, Portgordon (Portgordon is a village in Moray, Scotland). After the barley has been malted and mashed, it is fermented in wooden washbacks for approximately two days. The wooden washbacks used by Glenlivet are more difficult and expensive to maintain as compared to the stainless steel washbacks used by most Scottish distilleries, but impart a distinctive, floral quality to the whisky. After the barley has been fermented, it is distilled first through one of Glenlivet's wash stills, and then again through one of Glenlivet's spirits stills. Originally designed by George Smith, the copper-pot stills have a unique, lantern-like shape, which encourages contact between the whisky and the copper. As a result, Glenlivet single malt whisky has a lighter, more pure flavor profile as compared to other Scotch whiskies. The Glenlivet 17 Year Old Single Malt Scotch Whisky (Signatory Bottling) was distilled on September 19, 1995 and matured for over 6,500 days (17 years) in a cask previously used to mature sherry (Cask # 144354). Following maturation, the whisky was bottled at 92 proof without the use of chill filtration or caramel coloring. The Glenlivet 17 Year Old Single Malt Scotch Whisky (Signatory Bottling) has a copper reddish color, along with an aroma of sherry, grapes, cherries and plums. The aroma gives way to notes of red fruits, buttered biscuits, caramel and moist tobacco on the palate, and leads to a finish with hints of citrus and clove. Only 757 bottles of this whisky have ever been produced. Pick one up today!