Glenfiddich Locks Horns with Former UK Defence Secretary

The iconic Scottish whisky brand Glenfiddich has become embroiled in a remarkable dispute. The Scottish distillery has taken on former UK Defence Secretary Sir Ben Wallace.

The distillery discovered that Wallace has been using the whisky brand’s name without permission. The former minister founded Glenfiddich Consulting Ltd in 2024, shortly before stepping down from the UK House of Commons.

That name immediately struck a nerve with whisky producer William Grant & Sons. The family-owned company, which has produced Glenfiddich since 1886 in Dufftown, Scotland, views the company name as a trademark infringement. As a result, a legal case has been filed to block the use of the name.

Wallace has offered an unusual explanation for his choice. During the war in Ukraine, he claims to have used whisky brands as codenames. He employed the names for different purposes in his communications with officials in the country.

The codename “Glenfiddich” referred to military deliveries, not the famed Scotch itself. Wallace would say things like 'I’ve got some whisky for you' and “your whisky is on the way” when referring to arms shipments. In that context, Glenfiddich stood for a light anti-tank weapon.

William Grant & Sons, the parent company behind Glenfiddich, stated in its case against Wallace that using the name could cause public confusion.

The drinks maker stresses that, for a global whisky brand, protecting the brand name is essential. After all, the name has existed since 1886.

The distillery’s name represents not only the producer, but also the product, its provenance, its flavor profile, and its history. Any commercial use outside the whisky sector risks diluting that identity.

The case is still before the courts. It remains unclear whether Wallace’s consulting firm will be allowed to keep the name or whether the team will soon have to come up with something entirely different.

In his defense, the former minister said he was aware of the dispute over the name but believed that Glenfiddich had since dropped the case.