Collection: Glenfiddich

History of Glenfiddich: A Family's Dedication

The 1887 Christmas Miracle

The Glenfiddich story began with founder William Grant's dream. After saving for 20 years, he bought land in Dufftown in 1886 and built the distillery stone by stone with the help of his seven sons and two daughters. After a year of hard labor, the first drop of spirit flowed on Christmas Day, 1887. This family unity and independent spirit remain deeply etched in the Glenfiddich DNA, as it is one of the very few Scottish distilleries still owned by the founding family (now in its fifth generation).

1963: The Year of Single Malt

This was perhaps the most important year in whisky history. Before the 1960s, Single Malt was almost exclusively consumed locally in Scotland, as the international market was dominated by blended whiskies. Then-owner Sandy Grant Gordon made the bold decision to market Glenfiddich as a single malt brand outside of Scotland, particularly in the United States. Competitors mocked the decision, believing foreigners would find the flavor too 'strong'. However, Glenfiddich's unique green triangular bottle and elegant Speyside fruit and floral notes quickly conquered the world, launching the golden age of modern single malt. Want to learn more? Check out: Whisky Brands You Need to Know! A Guide to Scotch and Japanese Whiskies.

Design Philosophy: The Iconic Triptych Bottle

The Glenfiddich triangular bottle is one of the most recognizable designs in the industry. Created by designer Hans Schleger and first adopted in 1961, the three sides symbolize the three core elements of whisky making:

• Water: Sourced solely from the Robbie Dhu Spring. Glenfiddich is the only distillery in Scotland to use a single water source throughout the entire production process (from mashing to bottling), ensuring purity and consistency.
• Air: The fresh highland air and unique microclimate are vital for long-term maturation.
• Malted Barley: High-quality malted barley provides the foundation for the signature sweet and cereal notes.

Innovation & Craft: The Solera System

Solera Vat: Perpetual Flavor Harmony

In 1998, fifth Malt Master David Stewart introduced the Solera System, inspired by Spanish sherry production, for Glenfiddich 15 Year Old. The distillery built a massive handcrafted Solera Vat where spirit from Sherry, Bourbon, and New Oak casks are married together.

The key: only half of the whisky is drawn from the vat for bottling at any time, with new spirit immediately added to top it up. This ensures the vat always contains a foundation of older spirit. Since its inception in 1998, this vat has never been empty, granting Glenfiddich 15 Year Old incredible smoothness, complexity, and consistency.

On-Site Cooperage

Casks contribute up to 70% of a whisky's flavor. Glenfiddich is one of the few distilleries with an on-site cooperage and dedicated coopers who maintain thousands of casks daily to ensure optimal maturation.

Small Stills

Despite its scale, Glenfiddich insists on using small stills. Their unique shape ensures only the lightest, most fruit-forward vapors (specifically the signature pear and apple notes) are collected. To maintain flavor consistency, the distillery even replicates every dent and scratch when replacing old stills.

Grand Series & Limited Editions: A New Level of Luxury

Recently, Glenfiddich has pushed boundaries with the Grand Series, finishing Scotch whisky in world-class casks like French Cognac, Caribbean Rum, or rare Red Wine casks.
News: Glenfiddich and André Saraiva Launch Grand Château 31 Year Old
The brand also collaborates with fashion and racing icons.
Read more: Glenfiddich and Aston Martin F1 Limited Edition Single Malt

For the Asian market:
Market Trends: William Grant & Sons Launches Glenfiddich XS Series

Glenfiddich Core Range Guide

Alcohol Please offers a curated selection of the Glenfiddich range. From the classic 12 Year Old to the luxurious Grand Series, experience the legendary taste of Speyside. Explore more from the region at our Speyside Section or view the Scotch Whisky Overview. For more history, visit Wikipedia: Glenfiddich distillery.