14 yo Cognac Cask
The Glenlivet
Scotland
40%
Mash bill: 100% malted barley
Barrels used: Ex-bourbon, sherry, & cognac casks
Today’s dram is the newest in The Glenlivet’s line up and is a delicious addition! The Glenlivet is one of those Scottish distilleries that has its roots in hiding out from the law in its early days then going legit once the legislation came into place. However, unlike the rest, George Smith, original founder of The Glenlivet, was the first person in all of Scotland to take out a distilling license back in 1824. Not surprisingly, this did not sit well with his neighbors who were still distilling illegally. George infamously carried around a pair of pistols with him at all times in the interest of safety and some assertion of dominance. Over the next few years more and more distilleries gained licenses and eventually the ones that refused to do so, died out.
The illicit distilling started when the government began taxing spirits in 1644, bringing nearly 200 years of wild times. We saw mobile stills crafted so that when the exciseman was first seen in the area everyone would shut them down & get out of there, and famously the homes in the communities would bake bread so that the chimneys were seen mixed with the stills to mask their existence with the added bonus that the scent of malt was combined with the actual bread being baked. You’ve got to appreciate the ingenuity! After cementing his place as the first licensed distiller, George amped up production and by 1839 he was producing over 200 barrels a week!
I’m sure you’ll notice that everywhere refers to this distillery as THE Glenlivet. That is no mistake either. Due to his wild success and people wanting to illicitly use the name Glenlivet, John Gordon Smith, George’s son who took over after his death, fought legally and won the rights to be named The Glenlivet in 1884.
Tasting notes: Apricots on the nose, some sweet jelly notes. The Cognac comes in on the palate with a richness that swoops you away. Chocolate notes with caramelized pears. Smooth & delicious.
What do you think?