The Glen Grant has been churning out spectacular single malts since the 1840s. In all that time, the legendary Speyside Scotch maker has never added anything to its permanent lineup as old as its new The Glasshouse Collection, a trio of elegant whiskies ranging from 21 to 30 years in age. Each one enters the bottle as an embodiment of the brand’s rich, ripened fruit flavors. Together, they form the swan song of master distiller Dennis Malcolm, who recently announced his retirement after 63 years.
The new whiskies take inspirational cues from one of Glen Grant’s 19th-century forefathers, James Grant, nicknamed “The Major.” More specifically, they’re a callback to the Victorian-era glass house he built to showcase exotic flowers and plants he’d continually retrieve from his prolific travels to far-flung corners of the globe. The varying character of the three whiskies is intended as a metaphorical journey through this eponymous conservatory.
The Glen Grant 21-Year-Old represents the first light to shine through the arboretum. It’s a delicate 92-proof liquid that offers papaya and mango and a viscous texture. According to Malcolm, the expression encapsulates a warmth akin to the illuminating sun.
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The second bottle is The Glen Grant 25-Year-Old. This one drinks rich, with the plum and syrup notes you’d suspect of a Scotch that spent time in ex-sherry butts. Nutmeg-dusted cocoa nibs gnaw at the back of a prolonged finish. Clocking in at 96 proof, it’s a sturdy liquid that looks not unlike the setting sun as it pours into a glass.
Rounding out the collection is Glen Grant 30-Year-Old, also bottled at 96 proof. It stands apart as the sweetest sipper of the three. Atop a honey cream base is dried apricot, juicy tangerine, and a hint of molasses. The bottle represents the glass house bathed in moonlight. Unlike the first two, the 30-Year isn’t available to purchase just yet. It officially hits shelves in early 2025, becoming the oldest age statement whisky in The Glen Grant core portfolio.
Courtesy of Glen Grant
In the meantime, the 21-Year-Old can readily be found at retail for roughly $360 a bottle, while its 25-Year-Old sibling will set you back $1,000. When the 30-Year-Old drops, it’ll cost a cool $3,000. If you want to get a leg up on purchasing one, you can reach out to the distillery’s RARE Division sales team, administered through its parent company, Campari.
Whether you get your hands on one of the Glasshouse releases or succeed in completing the set, be sure to raise a glass to Sir Dennis Malcolm. After six decades in the space, he’s stepping away from the world of Scotch with one hell of a going-away party.
Related: We've Tasted Hundreds of Scotch Whiskies. These 16 Bottles Are the Best of 2024
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