Glenfiddich

A Brief History of Glenfiddich

Founded in 1886–87
William Grant and his nine children handcrafted the Glenfiddich distillery in Dufftown, Speyside. The first spirit flowed from their copper stills on Christmas Day 1887 .

In the 1920s, during U.S. Prohibition, Glenfiddich ramped up production despite the global downturn—positioning itself strategically for the post-Prohibition whisky boom .

In the 1960s, facing industry consolidation, the Grant family shifted focus. Glenfiddich became one of the first distilleries to market single malt as a premium, standalone spirit. The 1963 launch in the U.S. helped create the modern single malt market, including the iconic triangular bottle introduced in 1956 .

Family-Owned Legacy Continues
Remarkably, Glenfiddich remains under the ownership and management of William Grant & Sons, now in the hands of the fifth generation of Grant descendants .

Glenfiddich Today: Status & Highlights

Operational Scale & Distillery Assets
Still fully operational, Glenfiddich boasts 43 distinctive swan-neck copper stills and a production capacity of around 21 million liters of spirit. Its water source remains the beloved Robbie Dhu Spring, which contributes to its consistent quality .

Widely sold in approximately 180 countries and accounting for roughly 35% of single malt Scotch sales, Glenfiddich is the world’s best-selling single malt Scotch whisky .

Recent Collaborations & Special Releases
In August 2025, Glenfiddich launched a limited-edition 16-Year-Old single malt in collaboration with the Aston Martin F1 Team—aged entirely in American oak and retailing at around $75. This marks the start of a longer partnership with the prestigious racing team .

Owner William Grant & Sons posted a pre-tax profit of £554 million for the 2023 fiscal year, with nearly £2 billion in revenue, up from £1.7 billion the previous year.Read more