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You can recognize classic scotch tape by the branded bird on the label, the same “famous partridge” that gave the name to the fragrant product.
The line of the legendary whiskey is so diverse that you can find an option for almost every taste. The range of Famous Grouse includes malts and blends, aged and young drinks, budget and premium products, the latest developments and traditional Scottish scotch.
At the request of the buyer, the manufacturer is even ready to provide the bottle with a personal label signed with the name of a particular person and supplemented with any text on the back.
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The History of Famous Grouse Whiskey
The first milestone in the creation of the famous brand was the opening in 1800 of a small grocery store in the very center of Scotland – the city of Perth. The owner of the newly minted trading enterprise was Matthew Gloag.
The young businessman specialized in the sale of alcohol: among other goods, whiskey and wine were present in the assortment of the shop. Things were going well for Matthew Gloag & Son Ltd.
Since the middle of the XNUMXth century, after Queen Victoria visited Perth, the company began to supply alcoholic beverages to Her Majesty’s table.
In 1860, Matthew’s son William took up the independent production of whiskey, purchasing spirits for blending at the best distilleries in the region.
Almost a hundred years passed after the opening of the shop before the moment when the merchant’s grandson, his namesake, set about trying to create the best scotch in Scotland. He began his work by looking for worthy suppliers, coopers and master blenders.
In 1896, the Grouse brand was registered, named after the popular Scottish game. The sketch for the label of the new drink was drawn by Matthew’s daughter Philippa. The popularity of adhesive tape was actively gaining momentum, and it began to be called nothing more than “the famous partridge” (“the famous grouse”).
This is what prompted the owners of the company at the beginning of the XNUMXth century to rename whiskey in accordance with the accustomed nickname.
In 1910, the family business was taken over by Willi Gloag, who made a significant contribution to the development of the company. By 1920, the production of whiskey became the main activity of Matthew Gloag & Son Ltd, after another 50 years the company became part of Highland Distillers and expanded its line of drinks.
Despite changes in management and product range, even after 20 years the quality of The Famous Grouse whiskey is still exceptional, worthy of its founder.
The facility is open to tourists and is one of the most popular places to visit among visitors to Scotland.
Features of the production of whiskey Famous Grouse
The company creates the best malt spirits for blending at the oldest Scottish distillery Glenturret, located in the vicinity of Criff, in the Highlands. It was founded in the XNUMXth century. The composition of many drinks includes whiskey “The Macallan” and “Highland Park”.
For the production of adhesive tapes, the manufacturer uses selected grains and local spring water. Exposure is carried out in oak barrels from sherry and bourbon, which bring roundness, richness of shades and sweetness to the blends.
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In its work, the company is guided by four “F”:
Foundation
The company’s specialists strictly adhere to the principles of quality and integrity in everything they do.
Selecting raw materials and barrels, compiling blends and developing a recipe for new drinks, they remember the parting words of William Gloag: “in the manufacture of whiskey, only the best materials that can be purchased should be used.”
Finest (superiority)
The descendants of Matthew Gloag remember the goal of his undertakings – the creation of the best whiskey in Scotland – and strive to achieve it, by all means.
Flavor
The process of making adhesive tape is true magic, in which the choice of a suitable aging method is of no small importance. Three categories of casks are used to mature The Famous Grouse whiskey.
Choosing one or another type of oak, the company’s masters “conjure the bouquet”, adding sweetness, a bright fruity note or a rich “roasty” shade to it.
Fusion (fusion)
The stage of “marriage” is the final stage of cutting blended whiskey, a complex process that requires virtuoso skill. The art of mixing is far from being subject to everyone, but the specialists of the “famous partridge” have mastered it to perfection. There is no hurry here: sometimes it takes several months to “grind” alcohols. But the result is worth it.
Overview of flavors and types of Famous Grouse
The “noble partridge” collection includes 6 drinks of exceptional quality and 1 “exclusive option” for residents of Europe and South Africa:
The famous grouse
The brand’s flagship product, premium blended whiskey with a bright golden color. Aged in handmade barrels.
Taste: round, balanced, fruity. Main notes: oak, sherry, citrus.
Finish: long, dry, sweetish.
Good neat, on the rocks, paired with ginger ale.
The Famous Grouse Smoky Black
Consists mainly of malt spirits, among which there is a rare version of “Glenturret”. The inclusion of a small proportion of grain components provides the drink with a pleasant smoky accent.
Color: dark gold with a light brown tint.
Aroma: musky-smoky, soft, rich.
Taste: full, bright, with hints of spices, dried fruits and oak. Pairs well with citrus and cola.
The Black Grouse Alpha Edition
A mature, complex scotch with a deep golden color and a high content of aged malt ingredients.
The aroma is dominated by notes of spices, orange peel, cinnamon, chocolate.
Deep taste starts with sweet vanilla tones, gradually turning into shades of fresh pastries and desserts, and finishes with a warming velvety smoky trail.
The Famous Grouse Mellow Gold
The famous honey-gold scotch combines whiskey from two types of barrels: rare, hand-made sherry Spanish and charred American bourbon.
The result is a drink with a smooth, soft character and a rich, deep taste.
The bouquet is dominated by notes of orange and lemon peel, lychee, vanilla, spices, cedar and creme brulee.
Snow Grouse
An elegant, soft blended straw-colored whiskey created from selected grain spirits aged in oak barrels.
Before serving, the manufacturer recommends chilling the drink directly in the freezer.
Characteristic notes: creamy vanilla, honey, nutmeg, light notes of oak.
The aftertaste is sweet, lingering.
The Famous Grouse 16 Year Old Vic Lee
A special aged scotch in a polished gold tone, aged twice: in bourbon and sherry casks.
Consists of 8 varieties of whiskey, carefully “married” for a long time, which allowed to reveal the full depth of flavors.
Sold in designer packaging created by illustrator Vic Lee.
The aroma is bright, with notes of caramel pear, vanilla biscuit, black cherry and cedar.
The taste is spicy, silky, with hints of nutmeg, cinnamon and a lingering trail.
The Famous Grouse – Personalised
An excellent gift option for a dear person: a drink with an individual design. The manufacturer will fill the bottle with excellent blended premium whiskey and supplement it with a label signed in accordance with the wishes of the buyer (“Famous Thomas”, “Famous Father”, etc.).
This bottle will cost £25. An order can be made directly on the official website, but the service, unfortunately, is not available for residents of Russia.
Naked Grouse
Selected whiskey created exclusively from malt spirits.
The bold aroma of combinations of cocoa, dried fruits and cherries shimmers with hints of orange peel. In an elegant loop, notes of iris and mint are felt.
The palate is deep, with a sweet-astringent playfulness of caramel malt. In the second sip – a solid, voluminous tone of fragrant cinnamon.
The aftertaste is dominated by dried apricots and prunes with hints of musk and dark chocolate.
How to distinguish fake whiskey Famous Grouse
Bottle decoration
Most drinks, with the exception of the “black” and “snowy” versions, must have the founder’s signature or the “ESTD 1800” sign, with or without a feather in the middle, poured directly into the glass.
Exclusive versions are complemented by special three-dimensional signs: you can study the exact look of a particular bottle on the official website of the brand.
Label quality
The presence of a branded “bird”, bright color printing, the absence of glue smudges, uneven edges, and errors in names are signs of genuine products.
Cover design
The design of this packaging element may be different. The covers differ in color and design, but there is always an inscription on the side.
It can be the letter “A”, the stroke of Matthew Gloag and other signs.
The consistency of the drink
This whiskey is thick, oily, bright in color, without signs of sediment and turbidity, when shaken, it forms large bubbles that do not burst for a long time.
It is better to buy alcoholic products in specialized stores. Before purchasing, you should make sure that there is an excise stamp.
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Relevance: 29.12.2019
Tags: Whiskey and bourbon, Scotch brands