🥃 Glen Grant

Glen Grant is a distillery and single malt Scotch whisky brand in Rothes, Speyside. It was founded in 1840 by the brothers John and James Grant. Its best-known landmark is the garden laid out by James's son, known as the Major. Today the distillery belongs to the Italian Campari Group, which bought it in 2006.

History. Sources disagree on the year: most give 1840, but 1839 also appears. They also differ on who ran the distillery after John's death in 1864 and James's in 1872; what is known is that James's son, an army major, ran it. The Major is described as the first to bring electric lighting to the distillery and to introduce tall, slender stills that defined its style. He also founded a second distillery across the road, later renamed Caperdonich. In 1972 Glen Grant merged with The Glenlivet Distillers, and in 2006 Campari acquired it as part of a purchase of assets from Pernod Ricard.

How it is made. The sources we checked offer little in-depth technical detail; it is known to be a single malt, distilled twice in copper stills, as the law requires for Single Malt Scotch.

The range. Difford's Guide lists The Major's Reserve and bottlings aged 5, 10, 12 and 18 years. The Major's Reserve name honours the Major. The garden, with plants from India and Africa according to the same description, is open to visitors.

Why this matters to you. The age on the label is the age of the youngest whisky in the bottle. Versions without an age statement differ in strength and casks, so read the description. By law Scotch is at least 40% ABV (80 proof) and matured for at least three years in oak. The WHO reminds us: there is no safe level of alcohol consumption.