Glenfiddich whisky: history, overview of taste and types
In Dufftown, Scotland, the legendary whisky town of the Speyside region, the Glenfiddich distillery is the largest and most famous. The distillery is equipped with 28 distillation cubes and produces at least 10 million liters of alcohol per year.
Single malt produced by the company, along with Glenlivet products, share the glory of the most popular single malt whiskeys in the world. They are also known as the most titled.
The company is 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.
History of Glenfiddich whisky
It is noteworthy that the company is one of the few Scottish distilleries that have preserved the family spirit. For more than 100 years of its existence, the factory has been owned by representatives of the Grant family. "Glenfiddich became the second distillery to open in Dufftown. It was built in 1887 by William Grant with the active support of his numerous children.
According to the legend, it took about 750 thousand stones to build the family distillery. The help of the sons was obviously needed, as the structure was built by hand. The name of the distillery, named after the surrounding area "Glenfiddich", translates from Celtic as "valley of deer". For this reason, the logo was based on the head of a graceful animal crowned with horns.
The distillery operated successfully and even survived the world wars and the American "dry law" without any consequences. In the 20s, William's grandson Gordon Grant joined the management of the company, thanks to which it was possible not only to stay afloat, but also to significantly increase production volumes.
Until the early 30s, the Glenfiddich distillery remained one of the six operating whisky producers in Scotland.
In the 50s, the company acquired its own copper cubes, 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, in which the manufacturer began to pour not only single malt whiskey, but also its famous blends. The creator of the original packaging was the famous artist Hans Schleger.
In addition to the unusual bottle, a recognizable tube-shaped box is used for product design: it is a mandatory attribute of most Glenfiddich malt beverages.
In 1963, the company began to actively promote single malt beverages 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 malt was kept in the strictest confidence. The Grant family anticipated a new trend: the drink not only took root, but also became very popular.
At the turn of the XX and XXI centuries, the Glenfiddich collection was replenished with several rare drinks, aged for 5-6 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 15-year-old malt.
In 2011, at a charity auction, Glenfiddich sold a limited edition of the most expensive single malt whisky dedicated to 110-year-old Janet Roberts, the great-granddaughter of the brand's founder.
Types of Glenfiddich whisky
The brand's collection, including special series and vintage products, includes several dozen drinks. The main lineup includes 4 whisky varieties:
12 YEAR OLD Glenfiddich
To create the best malt of the Glenfiddich collection, which has won two gold medals at international competitions, local spring water and selected barley are used.
After distillation, the purest spirits mature for 12 years in barrels of European and American oak, 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.
The taste is characterized by tones of creamy pudding, oak, malt and toffee.
A long, soft aftertaste completes the harmonious composition.
15 YEAR OLD Glenfiddich
A red gold-colored drink made with the help of advanced solera technology, aged in oak for 15 years and softened in a "marriage" vat.
One of the top ten best-selling single malt whiskies in the world.
The intriguing multi-component aroma is dominated by notes of heather honey, vanilla, sweet fruits.
Velvety taste with accents of marzipan, sherry, ginger and cinnamon.
The aftertaste is long, sweetish.
18 YEAR OLD Glenfiddich
Exceptional amber-bronze malt, which has maximized its character due to 18 years of aging in sherry and American casks.
The maturation process is carried out in stages, which allows for careful control of the characteristics of each batch.
The luxurious whiskey has a deep fruity aroma, in which the notes of baked apple are most distinctly heard.
The multilayered taste plays with hints of dried fruits, dates, orange peel, elegant oak notes. The finish is long, warming.
21 YEAR OLD Glenfiddich
To make this exquisite drink, the master of production selects the best samples of whiskey from the available stocks.
It is aged in old stone warehouses in Caribbean rum barrels. They give the scotch exotic shades of banana, ginger, creamy toffee, fill the product with warmth and joy.
The rich drink surprises with a rich golden color and a variety of accents.
The aroma has vanilla sweetness, fruity freshness, floral notes, and a light smoky trail with a leather finish.
The taste is soft, slightly dry with tones of lime, spices, oak and figs. Spicy, warming aftertaste.
Update: 01.04.2019
Category: Whiskey and Bourbon