When George Smith started distilling, there were no age specifications for The Glenlivet and he selected whisky from casks of different ages.

This freedom is replicated in The Glenlivet Founder's Reserve Single Malt Scotch Whisky, in that the whisky is made from a selection of many traditional old oak casks.

The traditional oak casks in which whisky was previously aged give each expression its own characteristics. To add a modern twist to the flavor of the whisky, Master Distiller Alan Winchester blends a selection of the old oak casks with American first-fill oak casks.

These American first-fill oak barrels are barrels that have never been used before for the maturation of whiskey. The selective use of these barrels provides a smooth creamy sweetness that blends harmoniously with the delicate flavors and complex fruit notes of the whiskey.