In Dufftown, Scotland, the legendary whiskey town of the Speyside region, the Glenfiddich distillery is the largest and most famous. It is equipped with 28 stills and produces at least 10 million liters of alcohol per year.
Single malts produced by the company, along with Glenlivet products, share the fame of the most popular single malt whiskey in the world. They are also known as the most titled.
The company became famous not only for its elite drinks, marked with a “horned” logo and many awards, but also for its chic guest center. The distillery is open to tourists: about 800 thousand people visit it every year.
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History of Glenfiddich Whiskey
It is noteworthy that the company is one of the few Scottish distilleries that have retained the family spirit. For more than 100 years of existence, the plant has been owned by representatives of the Grant family. Glenfiddich is the second distillery to open in Dufftown. It was built in 1887 by William Grant with the active support of his many children.
According to legend, it took about 750 stones to build the family distillery. It obviously could not have done without the help of the sons, because the structure was built by hand. The name of the plant, named after the surrounding area “Glenfiddich”, is translated from the Celtic as “deer valley”. For this reason, the head of a graceful animal crowned with horns was taken as the basis for creating the logo.
The distillery worked successfully and even without any special consequences survived the world wars and the times of the American Prohibition. In the 20s, William’s grandson Gordon Grant joined the management of the enterprise, thanks to which it was possible not only to stay afloat, but also to significantly increase production volumes.
By the early 30s, the Glenfiddich distillery remained one of six active whiskey producers in Scotland.
In the 50s, the company acquired its own copper stills, the design of which was adopted by many local distilleries, and a personal cooperage.
A unique invention of the Grant family was a triangular bottle, into which the manufacturer began to pour not only single malt whiskey, but also his famous blends. The creator of the original packaging was the famous artist Hans Schleger.
In addition to an unusual bottle, a recognizable tube-shaped box is used to design products: it is an indispensable attribute of most Glenfiddich malts.
In 1963, the company began to actively promote single malts outside of Scotland. For foreign consumers, this product turned out to be a curiosity: before that, only blends were exported, and the recipe for single molts was kept in the strictest confidence. The Grant family foresaw a new trend: the drink not only took root, but also became very popular.
At the turn of the 5th and 6st centuries, the Glenfiddich collection was replenished with several rare drinks, the aging of which is estimated at XNUMX-XNUMX decades, and new production methods.
In 1998, based on the developments of Spanish winemakers, a unique solera technology was created, which is used to produce a 15-year-old molt.
In 2011, at a charity auction, Glenfiddich sold a limited edition of the most expensive single malt whiskey dedicated to 110-year-old Janet Roberts, the great-granddaughter of the founder of the brand.
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Types of whiskey Glenfiddich
The brand’s collection, taking into account special series and vintage products, includes several dozen drinks. The main line includes 4 types of whiskey:
12 YEAR OLD Glenfiddich
To create the best molt of the Glenfiddich collection, the winner of two gold medals in international competitions, local spring water and selected barley are used.
After distillation, the purest spirits mature for 12 years in European and American oak barrels, after which they undergo a mandatory 9-month “marriage” stage in special vats.
The result is a refined golden drink with a fresh fruity aroma dominated by pear notes.
On the palate there are tones of creamy pudding, oak, malt and toffee.
The harmonious composition is completed by a long soft aftertaste.
15 YEAR OLD Glenfiddich
A red gold-coloured drink made using the advanced Solera technology, aged for 15 years in oak and softened in a vat.
Included in the top ten best-selling single malt whiskeys in the world.
The intriguing multi-component aroma is dominated by notes of heather honey, vanilla, sweet fruits.
The taste is velvety with accents of marzipan, sherry, ginger and cinnamon.
The aftertaste is long and sweet.
18 YEAR OLD Glenfiddich
Exceptional amber-bronze malt, which revealed its character to the maximum as a result of 18 years of aging in sherry and American barrels.
The marriage process is carried out in stages, which allows you to carefully control the characteristics of each party.
Luxurious whiskey has a deep fruity aroma, which is most clearly audible notes of baked apple.
The multi-layered taste plays with hints of dried fruits, dates, orange peel, elegant oak notes. The aftertaste is long and warming.
21 YEAR OLD Glenfiddich
For the production of an exquisite drink, the master of production selects the best samples of whiskey from the available stocks.
Exposure is carried out in old stone warehouses in barrels of Caribbean rum. They give scotch exotic shades of banana, ginger, creamy toffee, fill the product with warmth and joy.
The rich drink surprises with its rich golden color and variety of accents.
The fragrance has vanilla sweetness, fruity freshness, floral notes, and a light smoky trail with leather trim.
The taste is soft, slightly dry with tones of lime, spices, oak and figs. The aftertaste is spicy, warming.
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Relevance: 01.04.2019
Tags: Whiskey and bourbon, Whiskey brands