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GLENFIDDICH DISTILLERY
The Glen of the river Fiddich gives its name to the biggest-selling single malt whisky in the world. The Glenfiddich distillery lies on the small river whose name it bears, in Dufftown. The name Fiddich indicates that the river runs through the valley of the deer. Hence the company’s emblem, a stag. This justifiably famous distillery was founded in 1886-87, and is still owned by the original family as a limited company. As a relatively small enterprise, it faced intense competition from bigger companies during the economic boom after the Second World War. The early start laid the foundations for the success of Glenfiddich. Its fortunes were no doubt further assisted by its being, among malts, one of the less challenging to the palate. Glenfiddich in its usual form (no age statement, but said to be eight years old) is very easily drinkable: a light, smooth malt with a hint of fruitiness. It used to be labeled “Special Old Reserve” (the latter word is a favorite of Glenfiddich’s), but the suggestion of great antiquity has been dropped in recent years. Devotees of malts who are ready for a greater challenge will find much more complexity in the longer-matured versions, including a recent innovation: a Glenfiddich that is aged for 15 years then vatted in a solera system. In 1991, nine casks of a 50-years-old were bottled. These were sold in London at around US $5,000 each, but one fetched US $70,000 in an auction in Milan. For its age, the whisky was surprisingly rounded and chocolaty, without excessive oakiness. A much newer product is Glenfiddich Malt Whisky Liqueur. The malt whisky is used as the basis for a sweetened, flavored drink, with notes of brown sugar, honey, and lemons. A truly traditional element of the distillery is the use of coal-fired stills. The stills are small, and the whisky is principally aged in plain oak, although about ten per cent goes into sherry casks. Whisky aged in different woods is married in plain oak. Glenfiddich likes to describe its malt as “Chateau-bottled”. The distillery is unusual in that it has its own bottling line on the premises. The only other malt distillery with bottling facilities on site is Springbank.
HOUSE STYLE Single Malt Scotch, Irish Whiskey, Bourbon, Rye Whisky, Canadian Whisky, Cognac and Tequila all available for purchase online to Michigan residents only |
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