Glenlivet adds Founder’s Reserve to core range

The Glenlivet Founder’s Reserve, created as a tribute to The Glenlivet founder George Smith,  will be permanent expression in the Scotch whisky brand’s core range.

The launch of this new single malt from Glenlivet comes in the wake of “an unparalleled year of growth” for the Pernod Ricard brand. According to Laurent Lacassagne, chairman and CEO, Chivas Brothers, the Scotch whisky and premium gin business of Pernod Ricard: “Founder’s Reserve brings to life the heart and soul of The Glenlivet - at its core is the perfectly balanced smooth and fruity flavour that The Glenlivet is renowned for. We are very proud to introduce this new expression during what has been an incredible 12 months for the brand, and which will enable us to meet increased demand for super-premium spirits with something unique to offer.”

With Founder’s Reserve, The Glenlivet house style is complemented with a creaminess and sweetness from the addition of First Fill American oak casks, resulting in a malt of “exceptional smoothness” – a quality for which George Smith’s The Glenlivet was appreciated in his day.

The new spirit will be rolling out in markets globally from March 2015, priced alongside The Glenlivet’s 12 Year Old expression.

The brand has further announced that, in September this year, it passed the one million case milestone.

Laurent Lacassagne adds: “The Glenlivet has been the biggest contributor to the growth of the single malt Scotch whisky category in the last five years and, in September 2014, reached the impressive milestone of one million case sales per annum*.   This fantastic achievement is driven by a robust performance in volume but an even stronger performance in value**, which is a testament first and foremost to the high quality of our product.”

The introduction of Founder’s Reserve follows on from the recent release of The Glenlivet Winchester Collection, the world’s first collection of 50 Year Old single malt Scotch whiskies.

*Pernod Ricard vol MAT 12 months ending September 2014
**8% increase in net sales in 2013/14 and a 2% increase in volumes (Pernod Ricard Figures to June 2014)

10 November 2014 - Felicity Murray The Drinks Report, editor