Glenlivet distillery is the oldest legal distillery in the parish of Glenlivet. It is a distillery near Ballindalloch Moray, Scotland that produces single malt Scotch whisky. It was founded legally in 1824 by a businessman named George Smith but was known to of been in operation illegally at least a number of years prior to that. In the summer of 1822 King George IV on a visit to Scotland had asked for a dram of this infamous, illegal Glenlivet, even the King couldn't resist.

Glenlivet, translated from Gaelic, means “valley of the smooth flowing one” and is most likely referencing the nearby River Livet.

Smith’s choice to obtain a license was viewed as treacherous by his neighbours, who also distilled unlawfully.  Smith began to receive threats to burn his newly built distillery to the ground, with him in it. Consequently, Smith began to carry two pistols with him at all times (the same pistols are now displayed at the distillery). 

In 1864, Smith formed a business relationship with Andrew P. Usher, a whisky agent, and Glenlivet becomes one of the first distilleries to export its product to enormous success. In 1871, George Smith passes away and the management of the distillery is taken over by his son John Gordon. By this point, there had been a surge of distilleries establishing themselves around the River Livet, many of which started using the name “Glenlivet” in some form or capacity.  John Gordon started a lengthy legal battle, and in 1880, Glenlivet was granted the sole right to call itself 'The Glenlivet'.

1890 brought a disastrous fire, which raged through the distillery and destroyed much of the property.  John Gordon took advantage of the fire and rebuilt with an expansion to the original distillery. In 1896, two new stills were installed. In 1901, John Gordon himself passed away, and in a repeat of history, the distillery once again passed to the next generation, with John’s nephew, George taking over the production. The distillery passed down through the family after George’s death, too, with George’s son, George Smith, taking over production in 1921. In 1953 George & J. G. Smith Ltd merged with J. & J. Grant of Glen Grant Distillery, forming the Glenlivet & Glen Grant Company Ltd. The second half of the twentieth century brought a series of hand-changes and merges to Glenlivet. 

In 1970, Glenlivet & Glen Grant Distillers Ltd merged with the Longmorn-Glenlivet Distilleries Company and Hill Thomson & Co. Ltd to form The Glenlivet Distillers Ltd. Eight years later, Seagrams buys the distillery, and a visitor’s Centre was opened.  In 2001, Pernod Ricard and Diageo bought Seagram, giving Pernod control over the Chivas Group. 

Today, The Glenlivet is the best-selling malt whisky in the United State and the fourth best-selling in the UK with a 7% market share. The Glenlivet is the world's second best-selling single malt whisky, and current global sales total 6 million bottles per annum.