We Taste Test & Rank Every Glen Grant From 12 To 30 Years, Including The New Glen Grant Sherry Cask Finish 12 Years Old
It is one of the quieter achievers in the Scotch whisky world, so you may not know that Glen Grant had played a pivotal role in shaping the taste of Scotch whisky as we know it today. The Speyside distillery also holds a particularly iconic status amongst European and Italian whisky connoisseurs.
Established in 1840 in the town of Rothes of the Speyside region in Scotland, Glen Grant was founded by the Grant brothers, who were prominent men seen as visionaries of their time with a strong pioneering spirit. They understood the importance of scale and logistics to success in the whisky business. This led them to build a large distillery and use their influence to construct a railway line in the remote north of Scotland; a move that ensured the whisky they produced could reach a wider audience. They also introduced electric lighting, not just within the distillery but to the rest of their town of Rothes.
Taking the reins in the second generation, James "The Major" Grant continued with this pioneering spirit. A true Renaissance man, he was the first person in the Scottish Highlands to own a motorcar. His penchant for exploration also led him to go on voyages to Africa and the Himalayas, from which he would often return with exotic flowers and plants to be cultivated in a Victorian garden on the distillery grounds.
Upon inheriting the distillery, he sought to refine Glen Grant's signature flavour profile. His solution? Tall, slender pot stills coupled with unique water-cooling purifiers. This ingenious design increased contact between the alcohol vapours and copper, resulting in a more elegant and refined spirit. These stills, along with the purifiers, laid the foundation for the light and fruity style that now defines Speyside Scotch and is familiar throughout the wider Highland region.
Most notably, Glen Grant Distillery was also the first Scotch distillery to bottle its whisky as a “pure malt” whisky – what later became known as “single malt” whisky. Later in the 60s’, Glen Grant carved out a unique niche for itself in Italy.
This was both unusual and impressive because it became the country’s favourite whisky at a time when blended whisky brands (think Johnnie Walker or J&B Scotch) dominated the Scotch industry in almost every other market. Perhaps fittingly, Glen Grant is today owned by Italy’s iconic Campari Group.
We have had the opportunity to experience the full range of Glen Grant's core lineup - beginning from the 12 Year Old to the the prestigious Glen Grant 21 Years, 25 Years and 30 Years that mark the end of an era as the final series of whiskies created by Glen Grant’s well-respected Master Distiller Dennis Malcolm – who retired in 2024 after spending over 60 years dedicated to crafting Scotch at Glen Grant Distillery. He holds the title as Scotland’s longest-serving distiller.
These whiskies have been matured in a combination of American oak bourbon barrels and Oloroso Sherry butts and hogsheads within the distillery's traditional stone dunnage warehouses.
Much of Glen Grant's modern brand identity is inspired by the beautiful botanical glasshouse that was built by distillery forefather James 'The Major' Grant. Glen Grant Distillery is also renowned for its splendid Victorian garden that is open to visitors. The garden boasts a diverse array of botanicals that trace their lineage back to the flora and fauna collected by James during his travels.
Master Distiller Dennis Malcolm.
Apart from the original lineup of 12 to 30, we've also recently had the special opportunity to taste Glen Grant's newly-released Asia-exclusive Glen Grant Sherry Cask Finish 12 Years Old.
The Glen Grant Sherry 12 is positioned by the brand to unite the signature fragrant and fruity character of the original 12, with the added depth from secondary maturation in Oloroso sherry casks. This is in essence aged under the same wood policy as the original Glen Grant 12, before being given an additional 6 months "finishing" period in an active first-fill Oloroso sherry cask. This expression is exclusive to Asia and is slated to take the place of the original 12 in Asia.
If you're based in Singapore, the Glen Grant Sherry Finish 12 Years Old is now available at selected retailers and stockists.
Let's give this whisky a taste!
Whisky Review: Glen Grant 12 Years Old Single Malt (Original), 43% ABV
Tasting Notes
Colour: Sunflower oil.
Aroma: Fresh, led by luscious orchard fruits over a malty biscuity foundation. Opens with tons of crisp green and red apples, ripe golden pears garnished by some orange blossoms and a light dry grassiness of hay. Richer notes of honey and bananas complemented by some lemon peels. This fruitiness underscored by a malty, biscuity dimension, butter shortbread, apple pie crust, vanilla cream with dusting of cinnamon sugar and clove spice. Finally some rocky notes of stone dust and slate. With time it gets rounder and more honeyed.
Taste: Honey and orchard fruits up front, with spices steadily unfolding. Medium bodied with a slightly syrupy texture. It has a sweet core of caramel, vanilla and honey, developing into familiar notes of butter shortbread, apple pie (baked apple and butter pastry), golden pears, orange peels, then warm vanilla, woody spices and espresso leading into a herbaceous and slight angelica root influence. Spice and sweetness continue to escalate towards the finish with cloves, candied ginger with pepper.
Finish: Warm and spiced, medium plus in length. Fading notes of honey and heavy cream, fading notes of apple and toasted malt aromas along with concentrated baking spices that warm the back of the palate. A touch of trail mix toasted nuts.
My Thoughts
This is a generously malty, fruity and spiced 12 year old Speyside malt. It leads with tons of classic orchard fruit influences with great clarity of apple and pear before revealing a lovely rich malty foundation that appeals to fans of this classic style, and while there is plenty of ex-bourbon cask influences here, it judiciously holds most of the overt vanilla sweetness in abeyance in well-calibrated proportions.
A sincerely made single malt at very good value.
Whisky Review: Glen Grant Sherry Cask Finish 12 Years Old Single Malt, 40% ABV
Tasting Notes
Color: Amber
Aroma: Polished, rounder, very layered, with significantly more jammy red fruit influences while retaining a recognisable malty core of the original Glen Grant 12. Opens with malty-biscuity richness, orange peels and toasted walnuts front and center. And then a wave of red fruits - overripe cherries, stewed red plums, figs, sultanas (it’s on the jammier side, with even a touch of marker pen ink notes) with an edge of caramel underneath. Surviving notes of familiar orchard fruits seen in the original expression - golden pears and red apples.
Taste: Sweet, rounded, with red fruited lustre in a very crowd-pleasing profile. This certainly fuller-bodied but it retains a certain lusciousness that doesn’t get cloying. Warm with a mouthfeel of Port wine. Opens with a sweet core of Manuka honey, caramel, toffee leading directly into red fruits - red apples, stewed plums, figs and sultanas carried from the nose. Some dried dates. As it unfold, rich sweetness lean into a herbal turn of liquorice and Chinese herbal tortoiseshell jelly (guilingao), toasted walnuts and warm baking spices.
Finish: Medium-plus in length. Warm, nutty and floral. The syrupy texture persists into the finish. Red fruits carrying through with caramel and walnuts. Warm baking spices and a touch of potpourri and violets right in the retronasal sensation.
My Thoughts
Having tasted the original Glen Grant 12, this seems to be the same whisky dressed in a much rounder, sweeter, and far more expressive get up. At least on the nose, we still recognise the malty biscuity character of the original 12, but the Oloroso cask finishing has brought out some of the most appreciated dimensions of this style in a very accessible presentation – we get stewed fruits, nuttiness and layered density but it’s held in check without much of the heavily tannic leathery notes seen in many other sherry cask Scotch whiskies. It is also so expressive - flavours are handed to you easily without the need to hunt for them.
This honours the DNA of the original Glen Grant 12, in a light and bright interpretation of a modern Sherry cask Scotch whisky. This will be a crowd-favourite.
Whisky Review: Glen Grant 15 Years Old Single Malt, 50% ABV
Tasting Notes
Colour: Light copper
Aroma: Antique and aromatic, with very pretty wood-led tertiary notes. Opens with rather evocative notes of an antique store - ornate antique closets, tobacco boxes, old library books and beeswax. A growing toasted almond and walnut register leading into bright orchard fruits with green apples, golden pears laced with marzipan sweetness, a touch of lemon and orange peel dryness. Then a soft floor of honey and vanilla. More spiced notes from candied ginger and white pepper. With time, a bit more of an old library with some petrichor (rain on rock).
Taste: Exotic and spiced. Full-bodied with a velvety texture perhaps from the extra strength. Intense core of stewed apples, caramel, vanilla, honey and slightly burnt marshmallow S’mores accompanied by just-as-present spices of ginger, white pepper and clove. It develops then into powdery notes of dried heather and lavender, with faintly resinous dimensions of toasted coconut and sandalwood.
Finish: Long, aromatic and spice-driven. Continued warmth and spice on the palate driven by honey, ginger and white pepper. Some lifted notes of lemon oil, more sandalwood and toasted coconut flakes.
My Thoughts
This is the most exotic and tertiary expression of the range by a huge margin. I should point out that this comes in at the strongest proof at 50% ABV. At higher strength, we still see much of the fruit but it appears that more nuances from the European wood are now present at full volume, giving us the most concentrated and spiced expression of the entire range.
While many seem to describe this as the purest shot of Glen Grants’ distillate due to the higher proof, my impression is that this shows quite a bit more oak influence than the other expressions - if not because of the maturation probably that a more concentrated spirit also reveals more tertiary notes from the oak - notes like sandalwood, toasted coconut and dried heather.
This is my personal favourite of the first four bottles in the range (12 to 18).
Whisky Review: Glen Grant 18 Years Old Single Malt, 43% ABV
Tasting Notes
Colour: Gold.
Aroma: Malt and orchard fruits led, but much deeper and rounder than the original Glen Grant 12. A malty- cereal grist led core laced with caramelised orange peels, honey, fresh apricots, honeydew melon, ripe apples and pear, hay and a touch of white florals. It comes in at a light and slightly sweetish register, reminiscent a little of pavlova. With time, more distinctive depths of stone fruit and malt.
Taste: Dense, tropical and creamy. Rich in flavour with a lightly oily palate. Rather a graceful initial attach of apples, pear, honey, vanilla chiffon cake, transitioning into coconut and pandan. Honeydew melon, a touch of yellow passionfruit before a darker weight of bittersweet dark chocolate and cafe mocha heaviness. Soft spices - some pepper, ginger and cloves. Then some rusticity of hay and light grassiness.
Finish: Medium length, with continued notes of light grassiness. As malt and vanilla recedes, we’re left with toasted coconut flakes and toasted nuts drying into light touch of tobacco ribbons and vanilla bourbon tea.
My Thoughts
Once again, we’re seeing a very well-managed oak maturation regime. It’s generous in flavour with age expressed as orchard fruit ripeness, nuttiness and exotic coconut-pandan notes rather than an overt resinous character.
To my mind, this has a very similar aromatic structure as the original Glen Grant 12. The bright luscious orchard fruit driven initial profile could almost be the 12 again. But give it a second and we start seeing lots of beautiful depths unfolding.
This is a a solid, very pretty and highly drinkable 18 year old malt-focused expression.
Whisky Review: Glen Grant 21 Years Old Single Malt, 46% ABV
Tasting Notes
Colour: Deep gold
Aroma: Bright, comforting and approachable with honey and vanilla notes mingling with crisp clarified apple juice. A minty freshness and grassiness weaves through, adding a rather nice spring meadow character. Aromatic malted barley, dry cereal and a touch of torched crème brûlée lend a subtle creaminess.
Taste: A lovely, viscous texture coats the tongue. Honeyed sweetness intertwines with bright fruitiness, sweet oak and spices, it’s almost like drinking an unsweetened fruit tea. Juicy peaches and cream dance across the palate before a clean sake-like dryness emerges. Liquorice and Hack’s candy add a very distinctive dimension of lively mintiness.
Finish: Continues with lingering mintiness that refreshes the nose and tongue. Vanilla and barley notes re-emerge, reminiscent of a crisp lager with a refreshing barley aftertaste, followed by a whisper of cocoa powder right at the very end.
My Thoughts:
The Glen Grant 21 Years Old is a bright, balanced and moderately complex dram. For a 21-year-old, this has the luxurious touch of a 30-year-old with its viscous mouthfeel. Interestingly, I should note that it also seems quite committed to this distinctive profile of mintiness and sweet grain character, which, as you shall see, will make a reappearance in the subsequent expressions.
Whisky Review: Glen Grant 25 Years Old Single Malt, 46% ABV
Tasting Notes
Colour: Light amber
Aroma: The familiar honeyed sweetness deepens, reminiscent of apple pie filling, complemented by some milk chocolate shavings. Creamy notes of fresh banana intertwine with a subtle orange zest and a barley sugar sweetness. There’s also the minty freshness, present in its younger sibling, but here it’s softer, more integrated into an overall more mellow character.
Taste: A similarly thick texture coats the mouth. The palate ushers in a bright, honeyed opening with the gentle sweetness of grain and cereal. Milk chocolate notes return alongside a smoother and more refined aromatic oak spice and a touch of nutmeg. As the dram evolves in the palate, the distinctive mintiness reappears, gradually growing bolder with each passing moment as the whisky warms within the glass.
Finish: Sweetness, honey and spice lingers, along with a fading mintiness and a whisper of cinnamon. Familiar malt biscuit notes emerge, evoking the comforting aroma of breakfast cereal and digestive biscuit. There also seems to be a fleeting hint of smoke.
My Thoughts:
Very smooth and integrated. This echos many of the same themes of the 21 but with an elevated elegance and mellowness. The palate is a masterclass in balance, revealing a lovely depth and complexity expected of a well-aged whisky. It continues to carry that mintiness present in its younger sibling, but it’s interestingly expressed as warmth and subtle heat that is held back until the finish.
Whisky Review: Glen Grant 30 Years Old Single Malt, 48% ABV
Tasting Notes
Colour: Light copper
Aroma: Really candied and fruity this! The familiar honeyed sweetness intensifies, now reminiscent of pure, unfiltered honey, buzzing with notes of sweet summer fruits. Ripe peaches and a medley of melons - cantaloupe and honeydew - mingle with the subtle almond sweetness of marzipan. Beneath the fruit and candy there’s also a gentle praline nuttiness.
Taste: Thick syrup-like texture coats the tongue, the densest of the trio. The palate opens with a very mellow, approachable sweetness that belies its 48% ABV. Waves of caramelised sugar, followed by a gentle creaminess. Then it reveals with unhurried grace some emergent fruitiness; notes of tinned peaches and overripe grapes intertwine, offering a fleeting, not unpleasant hint of magic marker-like acetone.
Finish: The signature mintiness peaks here, then gradually fades, leaving a gentle warmth on the back of the throat. A lingering aroma of barley sugar trails, reminiscent of a visit to a traditional English candy store.
My Thoughts:
This is my unequivocal favourite of the prestige range (21 - 30) and it’s the epitome of a well-aged Speyside whisky. It's not a complex dram in the traditional sense, but one with remarkable depth and mellowness that is only possible with well-aged Scotch. The flavours don't clamour for attention; instead, they unfold gradually, revealing a beautiful depth of summer fruits and caramelised sugars.
This is a whisky that doesn't strive to be everything, but does achieve near-perfection in its chosen path.
@CharsiuCharlie
