Glen Grant
- Founded: 1840
- Status: Operational
- Region: Speyside, Scotland – Rothes, Banffshire AB38 7BS +44(0)1340 832118
- Online: https://www.glengrant.com/
History Glen Grant was founded in 1840, by brothers John and James Grant, two former illegal distillers and smugglers who decided to take out a license. With the sea and port of Garmouth nearby, the River Spey at its feet and barley-growing plains nearby, all the basic ingredients of malt whisky were close at hand. This time the distillery was legal. By 1872, the founders of Glen Grant Distillery had died. Young James ‘The Major’ Grant, born in 1847, had always taken a keen interest in the distillery and having inherited the business and the title ‘Glengrant’ from his uncle John Grant, he was to prove himself a worthy successor. Stories about ‘The Major’ abound. A legendary innovator, socialiser and traveller, he lived by his own rules and set his own standards. New ideas fascinated him and he wasn’t afraid to explore them. He was the first man in the Highlands to own a car. Glen Grant was the first distillery to have electric light. And he introduced the tall slender stills and purifiers which created the fresh malty flavour and clear colour that defines Glen Grant whisky to this day.
In 1931, Major Grant, the last Glengrant, died, survived by his three daughters and a distillery that had become one of the most famous in the world. Douglas MacKessack, his grandson, was to become his successor. In 1972, the Glenlivet and Glen Grant Distilleries Ltd amalgamated with the blending concerns of Hill, Thomson and Co.Ltd and Longmorn Distilleries Ltd to become The Glenlivet Distillers Ltd. The original family interest in the distilleries was maintained, with two substantial outside shareholders: Courage Ltd, the brewing concern and Suntory Ltd, the Japanese distilling company. In 2006, Campari acquired Glen Grant, its only whisky, when Allied Domecq was acquired by Pernod Ricard. To this day, Glen Grant continues to be one of the biggest selling single malts worldwide.
The Whiskyphiles tasting notes
Official Bottling
Independent Bottling
Carn Mor
Douglas Laing
Gordon & MacPhail
- Glen Grant 1949 Speyside Collection (40%, Gordon & MacPhail, Sherry Casks, 653 Bottles, 2014)
- Glen Grant 1954 Rare Vintage (40%, Gordon & MacPhail, 2006)
Scotch Malt Whisky Society
- Glen Grant 16 Years Old 1997 9.75 Imperial Leather in a boat chandlery (55.3%, SMWS, Refill Bourbon HH, 285 Bottles, 2013)
- Glen Grant 21 Years Old 1996 9.143 Graceful gravitas (60.6%, SMWS, Refill Bourbon HH, 258 Bottles, 2018)
- Glen Grant 23 Years Old 1990 9.95 Playful popping in a fruit market ~ 53.6% (SMWS)
- Glen Grant 25 Years Old 1988 9.88 A heart-starter (55.3%, SMWS, Refill Sherry Butt, 542 Bottles, 2014)
