Established in 1824, Glenlivets is a historical distillery and has its roots intwined with the illicit whisky production in the Highlands during the 18th and 19th centuries. When malt tax was introduced, Illicit distilleries flourished in the remote highland glens and islands because they were difficult to find and, if the excisemen did get wind of what was going on, were difficult to approach unobserved. Using smaller stills and wooden barrels to mature their spirit Highland whisky soon became known for its quality flavour. Indeed, when King George IV visited Edinburgh in 1822, he asked for Glenlivet whisky which, at the time, would have been illegally distilled. According to Elizabeth Grant of Rothiemurchus in her Memoirs of a Highland Lady: “The king drank nothing else!”