Illicit distillers valued the Glen of the river Livet for its rugged landscape and isolation. Private stills were outlawed in the early 1800’s, so the terrain ensured customs and excise officers were spotted from afar on its singular main road. But equally as important was the ground water that gushed to the surface through a massive subterranean filter of limestone. Rich in calcium and magnesium, the Glen’s cold waters lent a floral taste to the whisky, and made such a name that King George IV asked for samples when he visited Edinburgh in 1822.

Against this backdrop George Smith perfected his dram, drawing fresh water from Josie’s Well on a slope called Upper Drumin. When production laws were repealed, Smith used every resource he had to become the first legalised distiller, earning the sole right to call his whisky The Glenlivet.

This Christmas season, raise a dram to the vision that became one of the world’s greatest whisky brands and toast with The Glenlivet’s Founder’s Reserve limited edition gift pack. Priced at a remarkable RM289, purchasers get a bottle of the Founder’s Reserve plus 2 etched glasses – an impeccable gift for friends, family or business partners.

You’ll find the same smoothness and fruity character that ran from Smith’s original copper pot stills. And taking a cue from him, the Founder’s Reserve has no age statement so as to select based on flavour profile as opposed to age. Then to lend a modern twist to the flavour of the expression, Master Distiller Alan Winchester married together a selection of the aged oak casks and American first-fill oak casks. American first-fill oak casks are those that have never before been used to mature whisky. Selective use of these casks provides a smooth, creamy sweetness that mingles harmoniously with the delicate flavours and complex fruity tones already present in the whisky.