Glen Grant

Glen Grant – From smugglers’ hooch to world-class whisky

In the idyllic Speyside town of Rothes, on the banks of the River Spey, lies the Glen Grant distillery – one of Scotland’s oldest and most successful distilleries. It was founded in 1840 by the brothers John and James Grant, two former illegal distillers and smugglers who decided to practise their craft legally. The Grants came from a dynasty of moonshiners who had been producing whisky for generations. With the legalisation of whisky distilling, the brothers officially entered the business.

Following the death of the founders, James Grant Junior, known as ‘The Major’, took over the distillery in 1872. He was an eccentric globetrotter and a visionary innovator. Under his leadership, Glen Grant became the first distillery to use electric lighting and he was the first Scot in the Highlands to buy a car. Above all, however, he introduced the tall, slender stills and coolers which, to this day, are responsible for the whisky’s fresh, malty flavour and light colour.

The distillery is the only one in Speyside that still bears the name of its founders. In 1898, James Grant Junior built a second distillery across the road, which is now known as Caperdonich. Following a series of ownership changes, Glen Grant was acquired by the Italian Campari Group in 2005 for 150 million euros.

With an annual production capacity of 5.9 million litres, Glen Grant ranks among the five best-selling distilleries in the world. The whisky is matured in bourbon and sherry casks and captivates with a fruity, sweet character featuring notes of vanilla, honey, pear and apple. The current Master Distiller, Dennis Malcolm, who was born on the distillery grounds, continues the tradition and preserves the heritage of this unique whisky. Today, Glen Grant is a globally celebrated single malt that combines the history of its smuggling roots with modern innovation .