Glenfiddich

Infobox Scottish Distillery
Name = Glenfiddich
Type = Speyside


Image size = 250
Caption = Glenfiddich Distillery
Location = Dufftown
Owner = William Grant & Sons
Founded = 1876
Status = Operational
Source = Robbie Dhu Springs
Mothballed =
Stills = 10 wash
16 spirit
Capacity =
Brand 1 = Glenfiddich
Type 1 =
Age 1 = 12-year-old
15-year-old
18-year-old
21-year-old
30-year-old
Cask 1 = Bourbon
Sherry
Rum
Brand 2 =
Type 2 =
Age 2 =
Cask 2 =

The Glenfiddich Distillery is a Speyside single malt Scotch whisky distillery owned by William Grant & Sons in Dufftown, Scotland. "Glenfiddich" is pronounced with a hard "ch" as in the Scottish "loch" (IPA IPA| [x] ) and means ‘Valley of the Deer’ in Gaelic, hence the presence of a deer symbol on Glenfiddich bottles. [ [http://www.dcs.ed.ac.uk/home/jhb/whisky/pronounc.html Whisky Pronunciation chart from Univ. of Edinburgh] ] [ [http://uk.glenfiddich.com/distillery/index.html William Grant & Sons] ]

History

The Glenfiddich Distillery was founded in 1876 by William Grant in Dufftown, Scotland, in the valley of the River Fiddich. [http://www.dcs.ed.ac.uk/home/jhb/whisky/smws/15.html Glenfiddich ] ] The Glenfiddich single malt whisky first ran from the stills on Christmas Day, 1887. [ [http://www.williamgrant.com/index_content.html William Grant & Sons] ]

Following difficult times in the 1960s and 70s, many small, independent distillers were bought up or went out of business. In order to survive, W. Grant & Sons expanded their production of the drink, and introduced advertising campaigns, a visitors' centre and from 1957 packaged the Scotch in distinctive triangular bottles. [ [http://www.scotchwhisky.com/english/about/malts/glenfidb.htm scotchwhisky.com] , URL accessed March 31, 2007]

Later, W. Grant & Sons was one of the first distilleries to package its bottles in tubes and gift tins, as well as recognising the importance of the duty-free market for spirits. This marketing strategy was successful, and Glenfiddich has now become the world's best-selling single malt. [ [http://www.spiritofspeyside.com/whiskyfacts.php Spirit of Speyside Whisky Festival website] ] It is sold in 180 countries, [ [http://www.williamgrant.com/index_content.html William Grant & Sons] ] and accounts for about 30% of single malt sales. [ [http://www.scotchwhisky.com/english/about/malts/regduff.htm ScotchWhisky.com] ]

Production

The whisky is the only Highland or Speyside Scotch whisky to be distilled, matured and bottled at a single distillery.Fact|date=April 2007 The distillery is the only Scotch whisky distillery to use a single source of natural spring water.Fact|date=April 2007 This source is the Robbie Dhu springs. Glenfiddich is matured in oak casks such as rum casks from Cuba (in the case of Gran Reserva), Bourbon whiskey barrels from America (Ancient Reserve), or sherry butts from Jerez in Spain. [ [http://uk.glenfiddich.com/shop/prod_gran_reserve_21.html Glenfiddich Gran Reserva product information] ] [ [http://uk.glenfiddich.com/shop/prod_ancient_reserve_18.html Glenfiddich Ancient Reserva product information] ]

Whiskies

Glenfiddich is bottled at ages of 12, 15, 18, 21 and 30 years old. The distillery has also bottled a number of rare whiskies including:

* Glenfiddich 40 Year Old (from casks filled in 1963)
* Glenfiddich 50 Year Old
* Glenfiddich 1937 (this whisky was bottled in 2001 and therefore it is 64 years old—years spent in the bottle are not counted)

Other whiskies include Caoran Reserve, Solera Reserve, and Havana (now simply 21 year old, as with all the non-vintage whiskies) Reserva.

Liqueur

Glenfiddich produces a liqueur called simply " [http://shop.glenfiddich.com/shop/prod_glenfiddich_liqueur.html Glenfiddich Malt Whisky Liqueur] " that is 40% alcohol by volume, and is sold in 50 cl (500 ml) bottles. Glenfiddich Malt Whisky Liqueur is exported to foreign markets, such as the USA, but not widely, very little of the liqueur is exported. It is also not widely available outside of specialist whisky retailers.

Glenfiddich Awards

Since 1970, Glenfiddich has promoted the Glenfiddich Food and Drink Awards to honour distinguished writing and broadcasting in the fields of food and drink in the UK.

Glenfiddich in popular culture

* In the TV series "NCIS", Agent Anthony DiNozzo and Mossad Liaison Officer Ziva David are drinking Glenfiddich following the death of NCIS Director Jenny Shepard in season 5 episode "Judgment Day".

* In the TV series Detective Robert Goren (Vincent D'Onofrio) orders a Glenfiddich while going over a case with his partner Detective Alex Eames (Katherine Erbe) in the season 6 episode "Albatross".

* In an episode of the TV series "Will & Grace", habitually drunk socialite Karen Walker has her maid Rosario Salazar load the minibar at Grace Adler Designs with Johnny Walker, Jim Beam, and Glenfiddich, much to the dismay of Grace Adler. When Grace learns that king size Kit Kat bars will be added as well, she gives her approval.

* In an episode of the TV series "Three Sheets", Glenfiddich was consumed several times by the host, "Zane Lamprey". A reserve of Glenfiddich 50 year was quoted at $10,000USD per bottle.

* In the episode Unseen of "Reaper" Steve & Tony, Sam, Ben & Sock's new neighbours, are in possession of a vintage bottle of Glenfiddich - "an '89 in a smoked bottle".

* Glenfiddich is the favourite drink of Inspector Morse.

References

ee also

* Whisky
* Scotch whisky
* List of whisky brands
* List of distilleries in Scotland

External links

* [http://www.glenfiddich.com Glenfiddich.com]
* [http://www.glenfiddich.com/foodanddrink Glenfiddich Food and Drink Awards]
* [http://www.glenfiddich-whisky.co.uk/ Glenfiddich Whisky] - details about the whisky
* [http://range.glenfiddich-whisky.co.uk/ Glenfiddich Whisky Range] - details about the Glenfiddich whisky range
* [http://distillery.glenfiddich-whisky.co.uk/ Glenfiddich Distillery] - details about the Glenfiddich Distillery
* [http://www.dcs.ed.ac.uk/home/jhb/whisky/smws/15.html Facts about Glenfiddich]
* [http://www.scotlandwhisky.com/distilleries/speyside/Glenfiddich Details on how to visit the Glenfiddich distillery]
* [http://www.scotchwhisky.com/english/about/malts/glenfidb.htm More Facts about Glenfiddich]
* [http://shop.glenfiddich.com/shop/prod_glenfiddich_liqueur.html Glenfiddich Malt Whisky Liqueur]
* [http://www.popularwealth.com/index.php/scotland-vacation-pictures Glenfiddich Distilery Photo Taken in June 2008]