Glenfiddich Distillery

The only distillery to use a single source of natural spring water

History

The Glenfiddich Distillery was founded in 1876 by William Grant in Dufftown, Scotland, in the valley of the River Fiddich. The Glenfiddich single malt whisky first ran from the stills on Christmas Day, 1887.

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 visitor's centre and from 1957 packaged the Scotch in distinctive triangular bottles.

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. It is sold in 180 countries, and accounts for about 30% of single malt sales.

The whisky is the only Highland or Speyside Scotch whisky to be distilled, matured and bottled at a single distillery. The distillery is the only Scotch whisky distillery to use a single source of natural spring water. 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 Spain.