Distillery
Glenfiddich
Glenfiddich is a historic Speyside distillery owned by the William Grant & Sons family, founded by William Grant in 1887 in Dufftown, Scotland. It is internationally known for its range of aged single malt Scotch whiskies and for its focus on artisanal production, careful cask selection and innovation in maturation.
- Dufftown · Speyside · Scotland (United Kingdom)
- Since 1887
- 16 products
The story
William Grant built the Glenfiddich distillery together with his children and the first distillation took place at Christmas 1887. During the 20th century production and exports grew, ownership remained with the family (William Grant & Sons) and the distillery introduced innovations such as an on-site copper workshop for still maintenance and an in-house cooperage for barrel care. Over the years Glenfiddich has developed distinctive collections (Flagship, Grand Series, Time Re:Imagined) and released numerous premium expressions and limited editions.
Production philosophy
To maintain a strong family and craft heritage combined with experimentation and consistent quality: attention to raw materials (local spring water), care for the stills and casks, and experimentation with finishing techniques and non-conventional casks to highlight the uniqueness of each expression.
Territory
Dufftown, in the Speyside area (Moray), Scotland. The water used comes from the Robbie Dhu spring in the Fiddich valley.
Production method
Typical single malt Scotch production: use of local spring water, malted barley and yeast; distillation in copper pot stills of specific sizes and shapes, with in-house maintenance by coppersmiths. Extensive maturation in oak casks with batches transferred or finished in particular casks (e.g. rum, cognac, Bordeaux wine, Awamori). The Solera Vat process is used for the 15-year expression.
Distillation
Distillation in copper pot stills with in-house maintenance by coppersmiths.
Ageing
Maturation in oak casks with finishing/extra-maturation in selected casks (e.g. rum casks, sherry, cognac, Bordeaux wine casks, Awamori); use of the Solera Vat for some expressions (e.g. 15 years).
Characteristics
- Type
- Distillery
- City
- Dufftown
- Categories
- Scotch whisky
- single malt
- aged whisky
- Speyside single malt
- Raw materials
- malted barley
- water (Robbie Dhu Spring)
- yeast
- Casks and ageing vessels
- American oak (ex-bourbon)
- Spanish/European oak (sherry: Oloroso, Amontillado)
- Caribbean rum casks
- French cuvée casks
- French cognac casks
- Bordeaux red wine casks
- Ex-Awamori (Japanese) casks
- Representative products
- Glenfiddich 12Y Our Original Twelve (70cl)
- Glenfiddich 18Y Small Batch (70cl)
- Glenfiddich 21Y Gran Reserva (70cl)
- Glenfiddich 23Y Grand Cru (70cl)
- Glenfiddich 26Y Grande Couronne / Excellence (70cl)
- Glenfiddich 29Y Grand Yozakura (70cl)
- Glenfiddich 30Y Suspended Time (70cl)
- Glenfiddich 31Y Grand Château (Bordeaux finish, 70cl)
- Glenfiddich Fire & Cane (70cl)
What makes it distinctive
- Founded by William Grant; first distillation on 25 December 1887
- Still family-owned and -run (William Grant & Sons)
- Use of water from the Robbie Dhu spring
- On-site coppersmiths workshop and in-house cooperage for still maintenance and barrel care
- Solera Vat as a distinctive process for the 15-year expression
- Wide range of maturations and finishes (Grand Series, Time Re:Imagined)
- Experimentation with non-conventional casks (rum, cognac, Bordeaux, Awamori)