King George IV - History of Whiskey

Royalty, Whiskey & A Damn Good Glass!

The remote and isolated Livet valley made it ideal for illicit distillation. This is how the distillery we now know as Glenlivet begin life. Hidden away from the Customs Officers and soldiers amongst the hills and abundant springs, they had time to distil slowly making a whisky that would soon become world renowned. In August 1822, King George IV arrived in Scotland for a state visit and asked to try a drop of the infamous Glenlivet whisky. An illegal dram it was, but even that didn’t stop the King.

The good King allegedly developed such a fondness for this whiskey that he arranged for an illegal supply to be maintained direct to wherever he happened to be! Within two years King George IV formally passed the Excise Act of 1823 which introduced the first licenses to legally distil whiskey in Scotland.

The King George IV Whiskey Glass, named in his honour, has been designed to honour this regal drammer. The carefully etched gold trace detailing indicate a rich and whiskey soaked lineage. The deep cut finger grooves are reminiscient of a sword handle echoing the warrior spirit of the ancient Kings who first ruled Scotland’s lush green whiskey giving lands.