Glenfiddich

Glenfiddich introduced their 12 year old single malt whisky, known for its green apple, malt, and honey notes. It is a classic Speyside whisky with mild, sweet-fruity, and elegant aromas.

In the summer of 1886, William Grant, along with his seven sons and two daughters, fulfilled his lifelong ambition by hand-building the Glenfiddich Distillery stone by stone. After a year of hard work, the distillery was completed and named Glenfiddich, meaning Valley of the Deer in Gaelic.

In 1887, William Grant fulfills his lifelong ambition by establishing the Glenfiddich Distillery with the assistance of his nine children and a single stone mason. The first drop of spirit is produced on Christmas Day of the same year.

In 1892, William Grant opened the Balvenie Distillery near Dufftown, Speyside. The distillery, which is still operational today, was the second one established by William Grant.

In 1909, William Grant's son-in-law, Charles Gordon, played a key role in expanding William Grant & Sons into a global export business. This move helped pave the way for the company's international success.

In 1917, William Grant & Sons had to close its operations for a couple of years due to the impact of war. The company faced challenges during this period but managed to reopen successfully in 1919.

In 1923, during the Prohibition era, William Grant's grandson, Grant Gordon, joins the family business and significantly increases whisky production. Despite the challenges of the time, Glenfiddich remains operational and prepares for a surge in demand for quality aged whiskies.

Glenfiddich introduced the iconic triangular bottle design, a revolutionary concept in the whisky industry. The unique design was inspired by water, air, and barley elements.

Charles Gordon, William’s son in law, brings coppersmiths onsite at the Distillery to build and tend to uniquely shaped copper stills, showcasing their rare and skilled craftsmanship.

In 1961, soon after coppersmiths were brought onsite, Gordon Grant built up a dedicated cooperage at the Distillery. Recognizing the significance of casks in developing exceptional whiskies, the onsite cooperage is one of the few that remain in distilleries today.

In 1963, Glenfiddich introduced the Glenfiddich 12 Years Single Malt Whisky, which became the first internationally successful single malt whisky. It has maintained its popularity as one of the top-selling single malts in the world.

In 1969, Glenfiddich became the first Scottish distillery to open a visitors' centre, allowing whisky enthusiasts to experience the distillery firsthand.

In 1970, Glenfiddich initiated the Glenfiddich Food and Drink Awards to recognize exceptional writing and broadcasting in the food and drink sectors in the UK. However, in 2008, Glenfiddich ceased the distribution of these awards to reassess their strategy and global market potential.

In 1971, the Grant family became the first to market single malts through advertising, which played a significant role in creating a new market for malt whisky.

In 1973, Glenfiddich released a 46-year-old whisky aged in Armagnac casks, offering a unique and limited edition product to whisky enthusiasts.

A major investment in 1974 saw Glenfiddich installing 16 new stills, increasing its production capacity and quality.

In 1987, Sandy Grant Gordon, the great grandson of William Grant, proudly promotes Glenfiddich single malt whisky outside Scotland for the first time. This marketing effort introduces consumers around the world, who are accustomed to blended whisky, to the unique flavors of single malt, previously a secret of the Scots.

In 1991, Glenfiddich released one of the most collectable and rare whiskies, the first ever vatting of their 50 Year Old whisky. This special blend was married to perfection from casks laid down in the 1930s, honoring each of William Grant's children who contributed to the distillery.

Around 1994, Glenfiddich expanded its distillery with a total of 29 stills, including 11 wash stills and 18 spirit stills, which were gas- and coal-fired.

In 1998, Glenfiddich initiated the Glenfiddich Spirit of Scotland Awards, an annual event honoring notable Scottish individuals across various categories. The awards were sponsored by Glenfiddich in collaboration with The Scotsman newspaper, with nine awards presented in fields like art, business, and sport. Winners were chosen through public voting after being nominated by a consulting panel.

In 1999, Glenfiddich was acquired by William Grants & Sons Ltd. and saw a significant increase in Single Malt sales, reaching 745,000 cases.

Since 2000, the Glenfiddich range has received more awards than any other single malt Scotch whisky in the International Wine & Spirit Competition and the International Spirits Challenge.

In 2001, Glenfiddich releases the oldest single malt whisky from cask 843, which was filled in 1937 and matured for 64 years. Only 61 bottles of this rare whisky were left after the angels took their share during maturation.

In 2002, Glenfiddich initiated the Artists in Residence (AiR) programme with a budget of £130,000, allowing artists to reside and work at the distillery annually.

As of 2004, Glenfiddich remained under the ownership of William Grants & Sons Ltd., maintaining its legacy within the company.

In 2005, the Glenfiddich visitors centre underwent a £1.7 million rebuild, now offering multiple distillery tours, a gift shop, bar, and restaurant. The new centre attracts 125,000 visitors annually, making a significant financial contribution to the business.

In 2009, Glenfiddich releases the second vatting of their 50 Year Old whisky, with only 50 hand-blown, individually numbered bottles available each year. The bottles are hallmarked in Scottish silver and finished in hand-stitched leather.

Glenfiddich Rich Oak was introduced at Whisky Live event in February 2010. It is matured for 14 years in first fill ex-bourbon casks.

The first Glenfiddich 'Vatted Vintage Reserve' was released in September 2011 after being selected by a panel of 16 experts.

In October 2012, one of the world's 11 bottles of Glenfiddich Janet Sheed Roberts Reserve 55 Year Old Scotch was sold at auction in Toronto for $52,000, setting a new record for Canada. This whisky is highly esteemed and was created to honor Janet Sheed Roberts' contributions to the Glenfiddich distillery.

Glenfiddich Spirit of A Nation 29 Year-Old was launched in December 2013 as a UK exclusive to commemorate Glenfiddich's support for the Walking With The Wounded Charity.

Glenfiddich Excellence, matured for a minimum of 26 years in American oak ex-bourbon casks, was released in June 2014.

In 2015, Glenfiddich commissioned a high tech YouTube campaign titled The Finishing Touch to promote the relaunch of their 21-year-old single malt, featuring innovative visuals and musical performances.

In 2019, Glenfiddich hosted eight artists as part of their Artists in Residence programme, providing them with the opportunity to stay and create at the distillery.

Glenfiddich launched a luxury campaign during the Chinese New Year in 2019, telling the mythical story of their iconic stag traveling to Asia, inspired by Charles Gordon's journey in 1909. The campaign featured an intricate design celebrating Scotland and various Asian countries.

Glenfiddich evolved from a small family business to become the leading single malt brand globally. Recent challenges like US tariffs have impacted sales, but the brand's reputation remains strong.

Glenfiddich released its first 19-year-old whisky under the 'Age Of Discovery' brand, marking a significant milestone for the distillery.