Glen Grant — Speyside's Most Elegant Single Malt
Glen Grant is one of Speyside's most historic, celebrated, and distinctive single malt distilleries — a producer of whiskies of exceptional purity, elegance, and character that have earned the admiration of critics and collectors around the world. Founded in 1840 in the village of Rothes on the banks of the River Spey, Glen Grant has been crafting single malts of remarkable finesse for over 180 years, guided by a philosophy of lightness, clarity, and the uncompromising pursuit of quality.
History & Heritage
Glen Grant was founded in 1840 by brothers James and John Grant — two entrepreneurial Speyside men who recognised the extraordinary potential of the Rothes valley's pure water, fertile barley land, and ideal climate for whisky production. The distillery grew rapidly under their stewardship, and by the late 19th century had become one of the most celebrated names in Scotch whisky.
It was James Grant's son, Major James Grant — known to all as ‘The Major’ — who would shape Glen Grant's identity most profoundly. A man of extraordinary energy, vision, and eccentricity, The Major took over the distillery in 1872 and ran it for over 50 years, transforming it into one of the most innovative and forward-thinking operations in Scotland. He introduced electricity to the distillery and the surrounding village of Rothes, created an extraordinary Victorian garden on the distillery grounds — complete with a safe hidden in a rock from which he would retrieve a dram of whisky for favoured guests — and, most importantly, pioneered the use of purifiers on the distillery's tall, slender pot stills to produce a lighter, purer, and more elegant spirit than any other distillery in Speyside.
The Major's legacy endures in every bottle of Glen Grant produced today. The distillery's iconic tall, slender pot stills — among the tallest in Speyside — and the purifiers that The Major introduced remain central to the production process, ensuring that the spirit produced is of exceptional purity, lightness, and delicacy. Glen Grant is today owned by the Campari Group, which has invested significantly in the distillery while preserving the traditions and character that have defined it for over 180 years.
The Region: Rothes, Speyside, Scotland
Glen Grant is located in Rothes, a small village in the heart of Speyside — the most densely concentrated whisky-producing region in the world and the source of some of Scotland's most celebrated single malts. Speyside occupies the valley of the River Spey in northeastern Scotland, stretching from the Cairngorm Mountains in the south to the Moray Firth coast in the north. The region's combination of pure, soft water drawn from the Cairngorms, fertile barley-growing land, and a tradition of meticulous craftsmanship has made it synonymous with the most elegant and refined expressions of Scotch whisky.
The water used at Glen Grant is drawn from the Caperdonich spring — a source of exceptional purity and softness that has been central to the distillery's character since its founding. Speyside's cool, damp climate and the region's abundance of quality oak casks create ideal conditions for slow, patient maturation, allowing the spirit to develop complexity and depth over many years while retaining the freshness and delicacy that define the Glen Grant house style.
Distillation & Production
Glen Grant's most distinctive feature is its tall, slender pot stills — among the tallest in all of Speyside — which encourage the heavier, oilier compounds in the spirit to fall back into the still rather than passing over into the distillate. The result is a lighter, purer, and more elegant new make spirit than most Speyside distilleries produce. This lightness is further enhanced by the purifiers that The Major introduced in the 19th century — small copper vessels fitted to the lyne arms of the stills that condense and return the heavier spirit vapours for redistillation, producing a spirit of exceptional clarity and finesse.
This commitment to lightness and purity is the defining characteristic of the Glen Grant style — a style that allows the quality of the oak cask and the patience of maturation to speak clearly and without interference, producing whiskies of remarkable elegance, complexity, and longevity.
Awards & Recognition
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Single Malt of the Year (Multiple Casks) — Jim Murray's Whisky Bible 2016 (Glen Grant 10 Year Old)
- Consistently rated among Speyside's finest single malts by leading critics and publications including Whisky Advocate, The Spirits Business, and Jim Murray's Whisky Bible
- One of the best-selling single malt Scotch whiskies in Italy, where Glen Grant has been a beloved institution for decades
- Over 180 years of continuous production at the same Rothes site — one of the longest unbroken distilling histories in Speyside
Our Range
Glen Grant 10 Year Old Single Malt 700mL — The entry point to the Glen Grant range and one of the most awarded single malts in its category. Bright golden in colour with a bouquet of sweet pear and vanilla. Soft and lively on the palate with notes of orchard fruits and malt, and a satisfyingly long and complex finish. Single Malt of the Year (Multiple Casks), Jim Murray's Whisky Bible 2016. An exceptional everyday single malt and outstanding value.
Glen Grant 15 Year Old Single Malt 700mL — A beautifully structured mid-range expression bottled at the higher strength that allows the full character of the whisky to express itself without dilution. Beautiful golden barley colour with a complex flavour profile of floral, citrus, and apple notes alongside undertones of honeydew melon, caramel, and oak. Hints of honey, vanilla, apricot marmalade, and malt on the palate, with a long, malty finish and a pleasant touch of soft spice. Best appreciated neat or with a small drop of still water to open the complexity.
Glen Grant 18 Year Old Single Malt 700mL — The pinnacle of the Glen Grant range — an unrivalled single malt matured for at least 18 years in the highest quality, handpicked oak casks. Radiant golden in colour with a seductive floral and oaky aroma. Deeply layered and complex on the palate, delivering beautifully intricate flavours of malted caramel, vanilla, and raisins, lingering with a long, sweet, and pleasantly spicy finish. A whisky of genuine luxury and sophistication — outstanding neat or with a single drop of still water.
The Glen Grant range also includes The Major's Reserve — a no-age-statement expression named in honour of Major James Grant, the visionary who shaped the distillery's character. Light golden in colour, soft and slightly dry with a delicate apple note, fresh and creamy with hints of vanilla and hazelnut, and a medium dry finish. Enquire for current availability.
How to Enjoy Glen Grant
Glen Grant's lighter, more elegant style makes it one of the most versatile single malts for both sipping and mixing. The 10 Year Old is outstanding neat, over a single large ice cube, or as the base of a premium Whisky Highball — two parts Glen Grant 10, topped with chilled sparkling water and a twist of lemon peel. The 15 Year Old is best appreciated neat or with a small drop of still water to open its floral and fruit complexity. The 18 Year Old deserves to be savoured slowly and without distraction — neat, at room temperature, in a tulip-shaped glass that concentrates its extraordinary aromatic depth.
Explore our full Glen Grant range below and discover why this Rothes distillery has been producing some of Speyside's most elegant and celebrated single malts for over 180 years.
