[Event]

 

MHB recently attended the launch of the Glen Grant 18 Year Old and Glen Grant 12 Year Old single malt whiskies with Glen Grant’s Master Distiller Dennis Malcolm (OBE) on 28 September 2016 at The Social in TREC, Kuala Lumpur.

Glen Grant’s story began in 1840, in Rothes, Speyside – one of Scotland’s renowned regions for whisky production; by brothers John and James Grant. Still produced in Rothes today, Glen Grant is currently the world’s number five top-selling single malt whisky (as claimed by Glen Grant) and holds a range of prestigious industry awards. The distiller practises a barley to bottle approach, whereby alongside milling and malting the barley on the premises, every drop is bottled on site too. Additionally, Glen Grant single malt Scotch whisky is made from the soft water of the Back Burn and the barley of Speyside.

The unique and smooth taste of Glen Grant whiskies are the result of the innovative tall slender stills and special purifiers that James ‘The Major’ Grant, son of founder James Grant, invented over a century ago. Still used to this day, this lasting legacy continues to distinguish the brand.

The latest premium expressions – the Glen Grant 18 Year Old and Glen Grant 12 Year Old single malt whiskies now join the existing range, which now in full includes The Major’s Reserve, 10 Year Old, 12 Year Old, 18 Year Old and a selection of limited edition bottles; each based on more than 175 years of passion and craftsmanship. The new 12 Year Old and 18 Year Old expressions each add their own unique flavour profiles to the current Glen Grant range, offering even more choice for consumers.

 

 

Dennis has been recognized for his exceptional life’s work at the International Wine and Spirit Competition 2015, where he received the Outstanding Achievement in the Scotch Whisky Industry Award. He is also the recipient of Whisky Advocate’s 22nd Annual Lifetime achievement award. More recently, Dennis was recognized for his lifelong service to the Scotch whisky industry and was appointed the highly prestigious “Officer of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire” (OBE) on the occasion of Queen Elizabeth II’s 2016 Birthday Honours. An OBE is a royal honour given to an individual for a major local role in an activity such as business, charity or the public sector.

The latest packaging features a new colour palette, which helps consumers to easily identify the different dram varieties. The 12 Year Old features a striking bronze label and casing, while the 18 Year Old is enclosed within a superior frosted-blue gift box with luxurious silver hues, reiterating its premium status.

The new Glen Grant logo, the Grant family monogram, is displayed proudly on the front of each bottle – with the letters ‘J’ ‘R’ and ‘G’ delicately intertwined in a timeless design. ‘J’ for James ‘The Major’ Grant and ‘R’ for his first wife Rose, reminding consumers of the deeply rooted family heritage of the brand.

With the launch of its new variants and new packaging, Glen Grant looks to affirm its place as a premium player within the single malt Scotch whisky category and appeal to a younger generation of whisky drinkers.

We got to try all four (4) expressions during the pairing dinner with a menu specially curated by The Social in TREC.

 

Glen Grant 10 years paired with Sesame prawn toast, smoked salmon blinis, Crab spring rolls

The 10 Year Old – Golden in colour, the 10 Year Old lingers in the mouth with a soft almond finish. For the last four years, the 10 Year Old has won the “Best Single Malt Scotch: 10 Years and Under” category award in Jim Murray’s Whisky Bible. In addition to this, in 2015 the 10 Year Old also took home the guide’s top honour for single malts by winning overall Single Malt of the Year (Multiple Casks).

Tasting notes

Colour: Bright gold

Aroma: Sweet pastry, pear drops with a hint of vanilla

Taste: Orchard fruit with rich malt notes

Finish: Long and complex

ABV: 40%

Glen Grant 12 years paired with Chicken herb sausage rolls, Dragon roll

The 12 Year Old – Glen Grant 12 Year Old is a remarkable single malt Scotch whisky. With a bright, golden colour and pleasant aromas of orchard fruit, almond and citrus, this exceptional whisky delights the palate with exquisite and delicate notes of apple pie crust and caramel, finishing with lingering fruit and subtle hints of spice.  The 12 Year Old was recently awarded the IWSC GOLD 2016, Single Malt Scotch Whisky, Speyside, 12-13 Years Old.

Tasting notes

Colour: Bright Gold

Aroma: Honey, pear and apple with hints of almond and citrus

Taste: Apple pie crust, caramel and vanilla

Finish: Lingering fruit with subtle hints of spice

ABV: 43%

Glen Grant 18 years paired with Mini wagyu beef burgers

The 18 Year Old – The rarest in the collection is the new Glen Grant 18 Year Old. This unrivalled single malt Scotch whisky matures for at least 18 years in the highest quality, handpicked oak casts, which creates a radiant golden colour and seductive floral and oaky aroma. Deeply layered and complex, this rich and vibrant whisky delivers beautifully intricate flavours of malted caramel, vanilla, and raisins and lingers with a long, sweet and pleasantly spicy finish.

Tasting notes

Colour: Bright Gold

Aroma: Rich and floral with oaky overtones and hints of baking spices

Taste: Malty caramel, delicate, dried raisins and vanilla

Finish: Long, sweet with hints of nuts and spice

ABV: 43%

Glen Grant Major’s Reserve paired with Creme-grant Brûlée

The Major’s Reserve – inspired by James ‘The Major’ Grant, grandson of the founder, is the lightest of the Glen Grant range. It is an easy drinking single malt Scotch whisky which is creamy and fruity on the palate with a slightly dry, nutty finish.

Tasting notes

Colour: Light golden colour

Aroma: Soft, slightly dry with a delicate apple note

Taste: Fresh, creamy with hints of vanilla and apple

Finish: Medium dry with a touch of hazelnut

ABV: 40%

 

 

The Glen Grant whiskies are officially distributed by Drinks Connexion in Malaysia, and are now currently available at selected entertainment outlets and retailers in Malaysia. For retail enquiries or bulk order, contact Amanda Quar at amanda.quar@drinksconnexion.com.my

For more information on Glen Grant, head over to http://www.glengrant.com/

 

 

Photos by Andy Kho Photography (www.andykho.com) and Kate Lee (mini wagyu burgers)

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