With the vision set out to make the best Single Malt Scotch Whisky possible, brothers John and James Grant decided in 1840 to take out a distilling license. It was this pioneering vision that established Glen Grant as the first distillery in Rothes due to the abundant barley growing fields, close proximity to the port of Garmouth and the River Spey at its feet. A very important part of Scotch whisky history had just begun.
James Grant Senior foresaw the need to have improved infrastructure to produce the best Scotch whisky. He decided to fund and construct the first Northern rail road in Scotland and as a result it not only gave Glen Grant better access to the finest materials, but it also paved the way for other Scotch distilleries to uplift their production standards.
In 1872, James ‘The Major’ Grant inherited the distillery. The Major was renowned for being a legendary innovator, socialiser and a man ahead of his time. His progressive vision led him to make a difference within the Speyside community and beyond. He introduced the tall slender stills and invented the double purifiers which created a fresh, malty, floral flavor that defines our Single Malt Whisky, and to this day is a process unique only to Glen Grant. The Major once again made history when he harnessed the energy of the Spey River to become the first distillery ever to have electric light. On top of that, he was the first man in the Highlands to ever own a car.
Vision and Innovation have been the essence of the Glen Grant pioneering approach since its birth over 170 years ago. The original vision and passion of The Major towards the Scotch whisky industry is the foundation of what Glen Grant represents and a legacy passed on to this day. This is evident as Glen Grant is the only single malt whisky still named after its founders.
Every drop of Glen Grant Single Malt Whisky is made with vision. The range of exceptional single malts is proof of this: The Major’s Reserve, 10 Year Old (won Whisky of the Year for two consecutive years in its category in Jim Murray’s Whisky Bible), 16 Year Old, 1992 Cellar Reserve, 170th Anniversary Limited Edition, Five Decades, and most recently a single malt of distinction, the Glen Grant 50 Year Old. This year Glen Grant is releasing an exceptionally rare edition, the Glen Grant 50 Year Old – a fitting tribute to the innovation and whisky craftsmanship woven into the legend of Glen Grant.
On 28 October 1963, a rather special cask was hand-filled by a young man who, at the time, was unaware that this liquid gold would ultimately shape his destiny. It would slowly mature for 50 years until 25 November 2013, when it reached its zenith – a robust, full-bodied and perfectly balanced single malt of distinction.
That young man, Dennis Malcolm, became the Master Distiller of one of Scotland’s finest distilleries, Glen Grant. The cask he watched over for half a century, containing a true masterpiece, is now ready to be presented to the world – once again proving that Glen Grant excels at making single malt – from barley to bottle.
Only 150 bottles of this exclusive timeless collector’s item will be released globally. Each piece is unique and handcrafted in every sense – presented in a hand-blown crystal glass decanter, masterfully created and individually refined by the skilled craftsmen at Glencairn Crystal, the last family-owned crystal glass company in Scotland. Each decanter is hand engraved, hand numbered and finished with the number 50 in 18-carat gold lettering. The design of the decanter is an exact replica of Glen Grant’s tall, slender pot stills – a creation of Glen Grant’s legendary innovator, James ‘The Major’ Grant.
It is housed in a copper-lined Scottish oak box – made from new oak, worked by a skillful cabinetmaker with a practiced carpenter’s hand and an astute eye for detail.
Each Glen Grant 50 Year Old comes with a certificate of authenticity, signed by Dennis Malcolm and every craftsman involved.
In an age beset by instant gratification, that which has been expertly crafted by hand – with skills honed and passed down through the ages
– is a true rarity.
The Glen Grant 50 Year Old is the apotheosis of master craftsmanship:
a wide array of age-old skills creating a collective masterpiece that is unquantifiable. It is both aged and timeless. But now, the time has come.
Only 10 exclusive Glen Grant 50 Year Old bottles priced at RM56,888 are now available in Malaysia.
