The Glenlivet 1996 20 años Single Malt Whisky

Glenlivet stands as one of the most iconic single malt Scotch whisky brands, engaged in a perpetual yet cordial rivalry with Glenfiddich for global market leadership. While Glenfiddich pioneered global single malt promotion in the 1960s, Glenlivet claims historical primacy as one of Scotland's first licensed distilleries (1824). The brand's dominance in the crucial US market remained unchallenged for decades, despite Glenfiddich's occasional global sales victories—most recently in 2018 when Glenfiddich sold 16.8 million bottles versus Glenlivet's 14.5 million. Glenlivet's £35 million expansion completed in summer 2018 transformed it into Scotland's largest malt whisky distillery, boosting capacity to 21 million liters annually. The facility features two Briggs full-lauter mash tuns (13.5 tonnes each), 16 traditional wooden washbacks and 16 stainless steel fermenters, plus 14 copper pot stills distributed across three still rooms (4 in the original 19th-century room, 3 in a 2010 addition, and 7 in the new third still house). The core range includes Founder's Reserve, 12 Year Old, 12 Year Old Excellence, 15 Year Old French Oak Reserve, 18 Year Old, 21 Year Old Archive, and XXV. The Captain's Reserve (sherry cask-finished) launched in May 2018, while a 14-year-old sherry cask expression debuted exclusively for the US in September 2019. The non-chill filtered Nadurra series showcases cask-strength craftsmanship through Nadurra Oloroso Sherry Cask, Nadurra First Fill Selection, and the peated Nadurra Peated Whisky Cask Finish, which derives its smoky character from casks that previously held peated Scotch whisky. These are available both at cask strength and 48% ABV for travel retail. The travel retail-exclusive Triple Cask range (Distiller's Reserve, White Oak Reserve, and Rare Cask) succeeded the Master Distiller's Reserve series. The ultra-premium Winchester Collection, honoring Master Distiller Alan Winchester, began in 2014 with a 50-year-old release, with Vintage 1967 joining as the third edition in September 2018. Glenlivet also maintains an enigmatic limited release program, with the latest being Glenlivet Enigma (Spring 2019), whose specifications remain largely confidential. The Distillery Reserve Collection offers four cask-strength expressions aged 12-18 years, exclusively available at the Chivas Brothers visitor centre.