Back to the distant past with two Glen Grant
Glen Grant is an interesting single malt because it is one of those precious few whiskies of which there is a lot around from several eras. As it was marketed quite progressively early on in its existence, and because of the rise to stardom in the Italian market, there is enough for everyone! And still, it always surprises me how low-key the brand is appreciated. I am a member of a sample share group. Recently, I tried to break open and sample the 170th anniversary bottling of Glen Grant that was released in 2010. I could not interest a soul for this, even though the price of this bottle certainly has not kept up with inflation over the past 15 years, and this limited edition of just 17.000 bottles contains a cask make-up from several decades. It is probably a harsh truth, Glen Grant is not the sexiest brand.
Whisky writer Michael Jackson named Glen Grant a Victorian classic and really a pioneer in the single malt segment, even before that was a thing! The distillery is obviously worth a visit too, when you’re around, because of the beautiful garden that was established by Major Grant, the son of one of the two founders. I understand that as of this Spring (2026), the garden and distillery will finally be reopened to the public again, after a thorough refurbishment. Now owned by the Campari Group, Glen Grant can produce a hefty 6 million litres of spirit per year, even though production these days is around 1/3 of that. Still enough to create a handsome core range.
We will celebrate Glen Grant today with two rather special bottlings from the past, as this a Long Pour Session and we do like to take our time on Saturday. Enjoy!
Glen Grant 150th anniversary, 30 years old, bottled at 45 % abv
First things first: This was bottled in 1990, making this roughly a single malt distilled around 1960. We taste it head-to-head with the vintage 1957 below. Bottled in a square celebratory bottle.
Upon Sipping: Tasting it head-to-head with the 1957, it is shocking how incredibly sherried this release is. Lots of raisins and a whiff of sulphur. The latter influence disappears rather quickly. Then it is all fruit, berries, strawberries, liquid syrup on your vanilla coupe. So focused and brilliant, a 95-point nose, truly. On the palate, this Glen Grant 30 years old can’t keep up, sadly. It is nicely sweet and sugary, but a little too one-dimensional. Maybe it did not survive the 35 years in the bottle all that well, or the liquid was not aimed at a connoisseur audience. We have seen this too with a Glenfiddich Centenary. That one came out around the same time. But from a 30 year old malt whisky we can and may expect more, right? The finish carries some spices and sulphur, which makes it interesting but not overwhelmingly good. With water, the nose remains utterly stunning, but the palate does not offer anything extra. Perhaps a little caramel influence, very soft, but that is it.
Word to the Wise: These old gems from the past have trouble time travelling when the abv is reduced below 50 %. This Glen Grant is another example of that. Even so, if I were to taste this back in 1990, I doubt it would have offered a lot more than it does today. The nose is tremendous, the taste has trouble keeping up with that, but also offers the soft 1960s vibe we long for.
Score: 87 points.
Glen Grant 21 years old, vintage 1957, bottled at 45,7 % abv by Cadenhead’s
First things first: This was bottled in May 1978, after being distilled in February 1957 (like, two months before my father was born). We taste it head-to-head with the 30 years old above.
Upon Sipping: A tad lighter in colour, but not exactly pale either. Just a light golden flash. The nose opens on industrious fruit, mostly oranges. Cigarette ashes in a boardroom. Very light and gentle, obviously old, with some hints of the screwcap pressed on this liquid. Not disturbingly so, I add. A very light hint of peat actually slips through. Compared to the 30 years old above, this is a very straight and narrow plain single cask, that displays the fragile, fruity spirit of Glen Grant splendidly. With more and more time in the glass, the liquid seems more Campbeltown than Speyside. On the tongue, the vanilla and oily mouthfeel make for an interesting tasting experience. Sadly, an off-note has crept in, something steely, and I don’t mean Steely Dan. The finish has a nice spiciness and a hint of stone fruit, but it all feels very tired. With water, the nose even expands its richness towards those stone fruits. Also, more farmyard smells, cow dung, grasses, a nice summer day in farmland Speyside. Vanilla and aniseed on repeated nosing. The taste is fresher now too, but a hint of cardboard has to be taken for Glen Granted. But a more sugary sweetness has joined in, while the finish now amplifies the screwcap taste. It is what it is.
Word to the Wise: Like the 30 years old, this Glen Grant 1957 suffers from the travel to the 21th century, that is in itself already a quarter century old! Still, these bottles are a delight to discover and experience. This is a very pure and naked Glen Grant, that really shows the consistency of the malt made there since 1840.
Score: 85 points.