Exploring Glenfiddich Distillery in Scotland

It was a mind blowing experience for Nigerian nightlife enthusiasts and entrepreneurs as they recently explored Glenfiddich Distillery in Scotland. Rebecca Ejifoma writes on their voyage

It was a three-day electrifying tour, as Nigeria’s finest crème de la crème and nightlife enthusiasts like the Cubanas and the Play Network Africa and five others had a smooth trip to Scotland’s whisky estate – William Grant & Sons, distillers of the world’s most awarded whisky – Glenfiddich.

Known for its finest and trusted single malt Scotch whisky worldwide, Glenfiddich gave these blend of aficionados men known in Nigerian nightlife and hospitality a taste of real of its estate.

The blend of seven Nigerian biggest entrepreneurs and nightlife enthusiasts were given a luxurious three-day hospitality tour to the finest estate in Scotland. They were invited to the world-renowned William Grant and Sons Estate in estate in Dufftown, Scotland and given a once in a lifetime experience exploring the tales of the Glenfiddich distillery in a nostalgic order.

Among the entrepreneurs were Nigeria’s most popular bigwigs, who have printed their names in the hearts of entertainment lovers and kept nightlife in Nigeria abuzz and ever-thrilling. They are: CEO Grasshoppers Place, Marshall Onyia; CEO Play Network Africa, Charles Okpaleke; CEO and Principal Partner CUBANA Group, Obinna Iyiegbu.

Others are: MD, Opium Nightlife Cubana, Owerri, Okechukwu Paschal; CEO Bite United Limited, Olawale Faniran; CEO/Chairman Ice Entertainment,  Mr. Chuks Iroche; The Traffic Bar and the Principal Partner of EddieMPR, Eddie Agbo-Madaki; and iBlend Services and COO of The Dome Abuja.

Experience of Scottish Culture and Cuisine

For these seven bigwigs, it is an August to remember, indeed. They described their voyage as an exhilarating week-long experience. From the Mansefield Hotel, Elgin where they were treated to exquisite refreshments to the overwhelming Scottish culture and thus kicked off the wondrous journey through every part of the Glenfiddich tradition.

Interestingly, they were taken on an exclusive tour of the Glenfiddich Distillery grounds and its original warehouses (warehouse 1, 8) containing generations of gently maturing casks of whisky. At warehouse number 12, which is home to the Malt Master’s selection; they were invited to fill a 20cl bottle from a cask of their choice, which they took home.

“They also had a tutored masterclass of a selection of five of Glenfiddich finest whiskies along with delicious canapés prepared by the head chef,” says Head of Sales and Marketing for LEDROP Nigeria, marketers and Distributors of Glenfiddich in Nigeria, Miss Angela Gordon.

Accordingly, she narrated the thrilling moments the entrepreneurs experienced the wealth of craftsmanship and traditions that are still used at the distillery till date from cask making to the whiskies creation.

For Glenfiddich, these Nigerian influencers were selected and taken on the tour because they embodied and share similar values with the Glenfiddich brand which is the Maverick way of doing things differently. “This is the way of doing things their own way, creating their own paths and rules”.

Spirit of Entrepreneurship

All to spur a spirit of entrepreneurship in more Nigerians, Gordon enthused that Glenfiddich is trying to tell the world of the niche it has carved as an award-winning whisky worldwide.

“The Glenfiddich range has received more awards since 2000 than any other single malt Scotch whisky in two of the world’s most prestigious competitions, the International Wine & Spirit Competition and the International Spirits Challenge,” she noted.
As part of their objective, Glenfiddich is trying to inspire the Maverick in everyone, so they can explore their purpose, live on their own terms and forge their own paths in life.

About Glenfiddich

Today, however, Glenfiddich is a Speyside single malt Scotch whisky owned and produced by William Grant & Sons in Dufftown, Scotland. Glenfiddich means “valley of the deer” in Scottish Gaelic, which is why the Glenfiddich logo is a Stag.
The Glenfiddich Distillery was founded in 1886 by William Grant in Dufftown, Scotland, in the glen of the River Fiddich. The Glenfiddich single malt whisky first ran from the stills on Christmas Day, 1887.

Indeed, there is no gainsaying then that it pays to be an entrepreneur. These seven Nigerians have trailed the blaze of the global whisky distillery, an event that has ignited their passion to keep the wheels moving. It may have been for three days only, but they are sure it will last in their memories for a lifetime.