Glen Grant 170th Anniversary, 46%
Back from Scotland and Whiskyrific is back on-line.
These last 2 weeks, I’ve learnt that fog is to Wick what fleas are to sheep and Orkney is so windy, wind turbines here could generate enough electricity for the UK <I made that up, but there is no smoke without fire, it IS goddem blowy>. Also Scapa distillery has really nice springy turf.
That’s the distillery office as of August 2014, the visitor centre is really in a new converted atrium in the adjacent building to the right of this:
The whole grounds are beautifully laid out and kept.
It may surprise some but Glen Grant is quite a machine: 8 stills producing 6 million litres, that’s right near the top! Glen Grant needs it because it is/was the top selling malt whisky in Italy and Germany, suffice to say it’s really popular on the continent.
The whisky: Glen Grant 170th Anniversary. No age statement, but we know it was blended from a range of casks, according to the internet there are some 70s casks in here too.
On the bottle: Unique Selevtion of the Finest Vintages. Sweet raisin bouquet, richly fruited palate with hints of peat smoke. Intense long lingering finish.
Glen Grant 170th Anniversary, 46%
Nose: Light and elegant, almost delicate even. If this was a SMWS bottle it would be titled ‘wooden box that contained last night’s fruitcake’ – yes the sherry elements are there, rich sultanas, glacé cherries, a purple figginess, dash of cloves, but they are oh so subtle. Also included: pine sap and saw dust. The malt is still there, and a green apple brightness. The whole is rather fragrant and uplifting but not hard hitting at all.
Palette: Indeed sweet, fragrant with rich preserved fruit. Oops, shows a tad spiritiness here, but quickly turning into a piquant vegetal bitterness, like rucola or rhubarb, till the finish.
Finish: Quite long, dry and clean but fragrant, with just a touch of smoke here (finally).
Doesn’t wow me, but that’s because I like big whiskies, this one’s gentle fragrant nature may appeal to others of course. Also I think a few more 70s casks would have helped the palette.
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