It’s a classic question that many whisky drinkers ponder: Which is better…Glenfiddich or Glenlivet? It’s also a great question, because if someone were to ask you, “What does a Speyside whisky taste like?”, then pouring a dram of either Glenlivet or Glenlivet would answer their question pretty nicely.
Both exhibit that classic Speyside style of being grassy, floral, sweet and malty, with that little extra “zing” for good measure. With Glenfiddich, the zing comes in the form of pear drops, whilst Glenlivet, for me, has a wee hint of citrus tang. Both drams are textbook examples of Speyside whisky.
Depending on your age, and certainly if you were introduced to malt whisky prior to the 2000’s, then there’s a very good chance that one of these two whiskies was probably your first ever single malt.
The two brands are giants of the industry and mutually respected (and respectful) competitors on the playing field. Glenlivet is the single malt flagship of Pernod Ricard (via its subsidiary, Chivas Bros), whilst Glenfiddich remains one of the last bastions of independent, family ownership, being the bedrock of William Grant & Sons. Both brands command significant market share. The Glenlivet has been the biggest selling single malt in the USA for years, whereas Glenfiddich can boast the global title of being the biggest selling single malt in the world.
As these two heavyweights front up to do battle, let’s compare their credentials and get ready to rumble…
HISTORY
Glenlivet was founded in 1824. Its evolution & story is worthy of its own feature piece, complete with drama, smugglers, pistols, and naming rights. It’s one of the reasons for the “The” prefix, and there was a time when nearly every other distillery in Speyside (and beyond!) added Glenlivet to its name in order to ride on the coat tails of its fame and success.
Glenfiddich was founded in 1886 and can claim some romance in the fact that its first spirit flowed off the stills on Christmas Day in 1887.
Round One to Glenlivet!
SINGLE MALT
The legend has it that Glenlivet’s malt was the most sought after in the land – one of the reasons why so many other distilleries laid claim to the district and the name. Of course, when Andrew Usher started making waves with his blends and vatted malt in the 1860’s, the foundations were laid for Glenlivet’s fame and fortune.
Glenfiddich’s contribution is arguably more significant and long-reaching. In the context of today’s single malt boom, it’s a situation that’s harder for today’s new drinkers to appreciate, but there was a time when single malts were rarely known and marketed outside of Scotland. Glenfiddich took a massive – and incredibly risky – step when they became the first to actively market their whisky as a single malt in 1963. It was a game changer that impacted the landscape forevermore and today’s fans of single malt owe a debt of gratitude to the far-sighted and independent thinking of William Grant & Sons.
Round Two goes to Glenfiddich!
PRODUCTION
This round would be considered valid only by the purists and uber-enthusiasts. The average whisky drinker probably couldn’t care less about how the whisky came to be in the bottle. After all, surely what’s more important is the flavour. But notwithstanding that, it’s an interesting point of comparison: Glenfiddich maintains what can loosely be described as a more “traditional” approach to distilling. The stills are small; directly fired; and the cuts are still taken manually be the stillman. (Well, at least in one of the stillhouses).
Glenlivet, on the other hand, is fully automated these days, with one worker at the console able to oversee all production. The stills are indirectly heated, and flow meters dictate and control the cut points. So which is the more powerful punch here? Glenfiddich for its more traditional approach, or Glenlivet for taking advantage of more modern technologies and efficiencies?
You can’t help but notice that whisky’s marketing still plays on the distilleries making their whisky in the time-honoured, traditional way. On this basis, we’ll award Round Three to Glenfiddich, although we accept it’s a contentious one.
VISITOR CENTRES
Not surprisingly, Glenfiddich was the first distillery to open a visitor centre – way back in 1969! Today, coaches and cars fill the carpark every day as tourists and whisky enthusiasts alike come to see around the facility. There is a range of tours available, with different price tags and different features on offer to do, see, and taste. Until recently, Glenfiddich had a knock-out punch by offering a free tour, although that’s now discontinued.
Glenlivet has invested heavily in a new visitor centre, which is well set-up and stocked. Tours now go through the newer “cathedral” stillhouse (which is actually the second of the three stillhouses on site), and there aren’t too many other distilleries – certainly of this size – where you can see the mashtun, the washbacks, and the stills from the one viewing platform!
Both distilleries have fantastic staff and are incredibly welcoming. But on the basis of being the first, as well as providing some incredibly comprehensive tours (for a commensurate price), Round Four goes to Glenfiddich.
THE RANGE
The core range of any distillery’s portfolio is a moving target and never stays static for too long. Fortunately, in the case of both distilleries here, there are plenty of different expressions to keep the palates of fans amused and satisfied. As is often the case, the different aged expressions reflect a different wood or cask regime, and there are numerous releases from both distilleries here to showcase a wide spectrum of flavours from under the same roof.
For those who like numbers, Glenlivet’s core range features the 12, 15, 18, 21, and 25 year old. Glenfiddich has the 12, 15, 18 and 21yo, and also the Rich Oak NAS expression. Both distilleries have an impressive range of special or limited edition releases: Glenfiddich has its Age of Discovery range, as well as the 30, 40, and 50yo expressions, and Glenlivet has recently put out stuff like Alpha and the Guardians Chapter, as well as the 50yo in the so-called Winchester Collection.
On the basis of what’s currently available in terms of sheer range, accessibility, and diversity of expressions, you’d have to say Glenfiddich has both the edge and the bigger firepower. But despite being the underdog in this round, Glenlivet delivers a telling blow: The Nadurra. Cask strength, non chill-filtered, and now also available in an Oloroso expression, this whisky was a nod to those of us who prefer our whiskies taken straight out of the wood. With a late-landed upper cut, Round Five goes to Glenlivet.
INDEPENDENT EXPRESSIONS
Here there is a parting of paths. Glenlivet can be found amongst numerous independent bottlers, particularly the likes of The Scotch Malt Whisky Society. Glenfiddich, on the other hand, fiercely values its independence and control of its brand name. All casks of Glenfiddich that leave the site are “teaspooned” with a splash of either Balvenie or Kininvie, and thus the resulting cask can never be labelled or bottled as a single malt. That said, independent bottlings have occurred and very occasionally turn up, but they’re as rare as hen’s teeth.
Round Six goes to Glenlivet
* * * * * * * * *
And so, at the end of six rounds, we’re tied on points – three rounds each to the two combatants. Surely the only way to split these two is to hold a taste-off…
I have poured before me the flagship expressions of both distilleries: The standard 12yo. How do they stack up when put head to head in the glass?
Nose: The Glenfiddich is delicate, fragrant, and seems more estery. The signature pear drops bring out a fruity sweetness that is incredibly mouthwatering to nose. The Glenlivet is “louder”. Perhaps a little less delicate, the malt is more obvious, and I detect some mandarin or perhaps orange citrus.
Palate: The Glenfiddich is sweet, fruity, and well rounded on the palate initially, although that textbook Speyside “grassiness” emerges quickly on the back palate, and its finish plies a fine line between sweet and bitter. The mouthfeel and texture, it must be said, is superb. Turning to the Glenlivet, the observations follow similarly to those on the nose. The Glenlivet’s palate is louder, and possibly even a little hotter, with more spice and oak in the picture. The citrus – definitely orange now – adds some zest. The finish has a slightly metallic note, and although both expressions here have been bottled at 40%, the Glenlivet seems to have slightly more kick.
So who wins the deciding Round Seven and takes home the title?
It is, again, a split points decision. It’s probably been 10 years since I last compared these two side-by-side in a direct comparison, and I’m actually surprised at how similar they are. I’m also impressed with how good they are. Both have come a long way from where I recall them in the early 2000’s, and it’s clear that some healthy rivalry and better cask management and wood regimes in both camps has led to both parties picking their game up and improving their product.
For me, personally, I can see myself preferring these differently at different times. When sitting back, relaxing, and in a contemplative or laid back mood, the delicacy and complexity of the Glenfiddich will take some beating. However, in a social situation, the extra “volume” and spice of the Glenlivet would keep the palate well entertained.
So, am I sitting on the fence? No – they’re both just classic single malt whiskies, and it seems both a shame and an injustice to declare an outright winner. More importantly – and ironically, given their widespread availability – they’re whiskies that are often overlooked or ignored, particularly by seasoned whisky drinkers who are always on the lookout for something new. If you haven’t visited either whisky in a while, you might be surprised, as I was, to discover what’s in the bottle. And, to get back to where this started – if someone was to ask you, “What does a Speyside whisky taste like?” then either one of these would be a great answer.
(Of course, Speyside whiskies can also be sherried, can’t they? That’s another kettle of fish – check out Glendronach vs Glenfarclas vs Macallan ).
Cheers,
AD
Want some further articles on Glenfiddich or Glenlivet by Whisky & Wisdom? Read on…
The top six distilleries to visit before you die
The Glenlivet Founder’s Reserve
The three stages of your attitude to Glenfiddich: Like – Hate – Love
