Before us, among other museum exhibits, stands a ceramic jar called an Alagon, which was used in the early 19th century to store and transport whisky. The use of barrels became widespread as early as the 16th century when old Spanish or French wine, sherry, or bourbon barrels were utilized. Smugglers preferred such vessels because, in the face of deadly danger from English excise officers, they could simply break them. The painting depicts such a deadly confrontation. It is noteworthy that almost anything that could ferment and be distilled was added to the pot, and since not everything was always available, the result varied each time. George Smith was one of the first to create a relatively stable product and wanted to patent it, which led to his desire to license it. Interestingly, this caused an uproar and was perceived by other smugglers as a surrender to the English authorities. As a result, the authorities granted Smith pistols, which are also displayed here.

After George Smith's licensing and the establishment of the Glenlivet brand, a true commotion began. Firstly, single malt whisky struggled to maintain consistency in taste and quality, prompting enterprising individuals to start creating blends, especially in the grocery trade. Just as there are signature blends of tea or spices like ras el hanout, the same approach was taken with whisky. Each blend had its unique mixture, and such whiskies remain popular to this day, for example, Johnnie Walker or Jim Beam, etc. The battle for single malts was long-fought, and it was only thanks to Colonel George Smith Grant.

"What is whisky?" After much debate between distillers, merchants, and blenders, a Royal Commission was set up to find the answer. They met 37 times over more than a year, and George was one of their witnesses. He proudly stood up for single malts, telling the committee they deserved just as much recognition as the popular blends of the time.

Captain Bill Smith Grant took on the United States of America. The 1920s and '30s were tough times to be a whisky-maker. Over 100 distilleries folded during this period, but Captain Bill Smith Grant worked hard against many odds to keep The Glenlivet going. When Prohibition ended in 1933, he struck a deal to serve miniatures in Pullman train carriages across the USA, and a whole new audience was born.

Today, the popularity of whisky has surpassed that of former times, and single malt and single cask brands have earned well-deserved respect and pride. Such whisky is not just a drink; it is a symbol of status and wealth. People have even traveled by private helicopters to Glenlivet from Saudi Arabia and from renowned noble families of Europe to acquire it.