King George IV makes a state visit to
Scotland in a gesture of reconciliation
between the two countries.

At the welcoming ceremony the king requests
a glass of the illegal Glenlivet whisky.

George Smith travels to Elgin to
acquire a distiller's licence, legitimising
The Glenlivet Distillery at Upper Drumin
where the richness and smoothness of the
renowned illicit whisky of the area are
captured. The distillery has a single still.

A new distillery is built at
Minmore. George & J.G. Smith
& Co. is created.

The old distilleries at Upper
Drumin and Delnabo are closed.

All copper stills are moved to
the newdistillery at Minmore.

Death of
George Smith.

His son, John
Gordon Smith,
inherits the distillery.

John Gordon Smith applies
the name 'Glenlivet'
as their trademark.

The name becomes synonymous with quality, leading the other
distillers to brand it on their casks. Some are so far afield that
Glenlivet becomes known as the 'The Longest Glen in Scotland'.

Finally a trademark case is settled out of court which decrees
that only one distillery can legally call itself 'The Glenlivet'.

In the mid 1880s, The Glenlivet trademark is registered in Australia,
New Zealand, Canada, USA and The Cape of Good Hope.

John Gordon Smith secures the waters of Josie's Well. Located alongside the distillery, the underground spring provides a constant source of hard, pure, mineral-rich mountain water for making The Glenlivet.

The distillery modernises and expands with the introduction of electric power.

180 electric lamps are fitted and a second pair of stills is installed.

War and Naval Times reports, "Today it is generally recognised
that the name of The Glenlivet Distillery on any bottle is a
guarantee of perfect quality and assured maturity."

George Smith Grant gives
evidence at the Royal
Commission on whisky.

Customers pay 24 shillings
for a gallon of The Glenlivet.

Prohibition and the consequences of WWI forced many of the single malt distilleries in Scotland to close down. By the early 1930s only two pot still distilleries remain in operation, one of which is The Glenlivet.

Captain Bill Smith Grant begins bottling The Glenlivet as a single malt in Osborne Street, Glasgow.

The company begins exporting cases to the USA and other overseas markets.

As soon as prohibition ends in the USA, Bill Smith Grant, the great grandson of the distillery's founder, steals a march on his rivals by sailing there in 1934 to establish firm relationships between The Glenlivet and its distributors.

Neil Gunn writes, "Historically speaking, Glenlivet is synonymous with the 'real stuff'."

USA Pullman Company sends a telegram
asking for The Glenlivet miniatures
to re-supply their trains after WWII.

New markets open in the USA due to this exposure of The Glenlivet.

Floor maltings close
at the distillery.

The number of stills increases from
four to six,reflecting the continued
success of The Glenlivet in the USA.

The Glenlivet
celebrates its
150th anniversary.

Visitor Centre opens.

Stills increase from
six to eight.

Cellar Collection is launched.

Pernod Ricard acquires Chivas Brothers from Seagram.

Introduction of Nàdurra.

Global sales of
The Glenlivet surpass
500,000 9 litre cases.

Official opening of the distillery
extension is celebrated on the 4th June.