Glen Grant is a whisky known for its light, apple-fresh character, a quality that has been central to its production since “The Major,” John Grant, took charge in the late 19th century. His influence is seen in the distillery’s unique design, which includes the installation of purifying chambers in the lyne arm and the distinct shape of the stills—almost square boil bulbs that significantly increase the copper surface. These elements work together to produce a clean, delicate whisky. The distillery also employed coal-fired heating until the 1970s, with some return to coal-fired wash stills in 1983, although today all are indirectly fired.
The whisky’s delicacy is further accentuated by the use of ex-Bourbon and refill casks for aging, though Glen Grant’s signature ex-Sherry cask style is rare today, primarily appearing in bottlings from Gordon & MacPhail.
John Grant, along with his brother James, founded the distillery in 1839, with James instrumental in securing transport links by funding a railway line from Lossiemouth to Elgin and extending it to Rothes. Glen Grant House and its estate grew in size and prestige, especially under the leadership of John’s son, “The Major,” who took over in 1872. Known for his love of adventure, The Major also brought innovation to the distillery, including the installation of the first electric light in the area and the creation of the distinctive still design.
In 1898, The Major built a second distillery, Glen Grant No. 2, which closed in 1902, but its maltings continued to supply the original distillery. This second distillery was later renamed Caperdonich when it reopened in 1965 but was closed for good in 2002, with its site now occupied by Forsyth’s coppersmiths. Glen Grant itself was one of the first whisky brands to export widely, establishing its presence in Africa, Australia, and the US in the late 19th century.
Glen Grant underwent various ownership changes over the years. After merging with the Smith Grants of The Glenlivet in 1952 and joining Longmorn/Benriach in 1970, it was bought by Seagram in 1978. Following Pernod Ricard’s acquisition of Seagram’s whisky arm in 2001, Glen Grant was sold to Gruppo Campari in 2006. Today, it remains a significant malt in the Italian market, where younger expressions are popular, while older bottlings are handled by Gordon & MacPhail. Dennis Malcolm, who started working at Glen Grant in 1961 and was born at the distillery in 1946, continues to oversee production as the master distiller.’
