Scotland has had long history of illicit distilling throughout 1700's and 1800's. When the 1823 Excise Act passed, George Smith was one of the first men to take out a license to distill. Smith had a reputation of traveling with a pair of pistols for protection from smugglers and gangs who were known to attack and destroy distilleries. Glenlivet was acquired from Seagram's in 2001 by Pernod Ricard. There has been a big push by the parent company to make Glenlivet the world's best-selling single malt Scotch. It has achieved that status in the United States but is in second place to Glenfiddich on the global scale. The single malt coming from the distillery is known for floral and pineapple flavor notes. This particular expression was launched exclusively in the U.S. in July of 2019. Consequently, the U.S. accounts for approximately 40% of all Glenlivet sales. On the nose: orange blossoms, golden raisins, vanilla, lemon drop. On the palate: honey sweetness, black pepper spice, milk chocolate, and pineapple. Sweet on the finish at first, then herbal bitterness and pineapple astringency before it's quickly over. This is a smooth and easy drinking expression that is perfect for anyone that is new to whisky. Lots of pleasant flavors, not overly complex, and very little bite at 40% ABV. For those who want a bit more complexity, this is still a good whisky to finish the night with after a few excellent pours.