Whiskey Grants (Grant’s): history, review of taste and types + how to distinguish a fake

One of the most popular brands of blended whiskey in the world attracts attention from the first meeting. An unusual triangular bottle of Scotch scotch emphasizes the uniqueness and noble character of the drink.

The legendary product is produced by William Grant & Sons, a family business located in the Western Highlands of Scotland.

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Grants brand history

The first bottle of Scotch branded “Grants” went on sale in 1898. The distillery itself was launched in 1887.

Before becoming the founder of the legendary brand, William Grant managed to try several occupations (from herding cows to accounting), and all this time he did not stop dreaming of creating the best whiskey in the valley.

It is not known what a hardworking businessman would have achieved if not for the active help of the family.

However, the sons, daughters and their husbands have become a significant support on Grant’s path to success, helping him in everything from purchasing equipment and making drinks to organizing sales.

William’s brother-in-law was the first seller of the branded whiskey, who called about two dozen buyers before one of them became interested in the product.

From the moment of its foundation to the present day, the company remains practically the only major Scottish scotch manufacturer that has preserved the family tradition of doing business.

For more than a hundred years at the helm of William Grant & Sons, 5 generations of the legendary family have changed.

Significant for the company was 1905, when William’s son John Grant decided to open a representative office in Canada, thus initiating the spread of Scotch whiskey in North America.

The second brother Charles, in search of markets, moved first to the East, and then to Northern Europe, as a result of which the company had agencies in 30 countries of the world.

Today, the company’s product range includes many famous brands, such as Glenfiddich and The Balvenie single molts, Hendrick’s gin, Reyka vodka, Milagro tequila, etc.

However, the most famous and titled is Grant’s whiskey – a drink that has preserved an old recipe and has been awarded more than fifty industry awards.

Features of the production of adhesive tape Grants

The secret of the popularity of the famous adhesive tape lies in the unique technology developed back in the days of William Grant and carefully kept by the company’s specialists.

Far from the last role is played by blenders, who change extremely rarely and pass on the subtleties of craftsmanship to each other.

The process of creating Grants whiskey includes:

  1. Vacuum distillation of the wort, which allows you to separate the “lightest” spirits and obtain subtle, delicate shades of flavors.

  2. The use in blends of about 30 varieties of malt whiskey and several types of grains from different regions of Scotland.

    The brightest components are the aged Glenfiddich and Balvenie single malts.

    The first gives the bouquet notes of peach and oak, the second brings the sweetness of nuts and the aroma of cinnamon. Girvan grain whiskey provides softness to drinks.

  3. Long exposure of adhesive tape in special burnt barrels.

    Some of the containers are made by the company’s own team of coopers from different types of wood: American, Portuguese, European oak.

    Each material gives drinks its own accents: vanilla, smoke, dried fruits, spices, etc.

    Sherry, bourbon, and ale containers are also used to mature whiskey.

  4. Bottling into recognizable triangular bottles, demonstrating the quality and beautiful shade of the drinks.

    The unusual design of the vessels was developed in 1957 by Hans Schleger.

    This design not only emphasizes elegance, but also simplifies storage and transportation of products.

Overview of the taste and types of Grants

  1. Grant’s Triple Wood Whisky

    The drink is aged in barrels of three types of wood to obtain a balanced taste.

    Nose: complex, clean, with notes of ripe pear and summer fruit.

    Taste: smooth, with a soft malt tint, sweet vanilla tones and a light smoky plume.

  2. Grant’s Triple Wood Smoky Whisky

    Whiskey is a variation of the previous drink with a more pronounced peaty aftertaste and a bright smoky aroma.

    Bouquet: rich, velvety, with notes of sweet fruit, malt, toasted almonds and citrus.

  3. Grant’s Ale Cask Edition Whisky

    Scotch aged in ale casks, which give it a rich creamy-fruity taste.

    Predominant shades: elderberry, heather, maple syrup, red apples, honey, oak, citrus fruits.

  4. Grant’s Rum Cask Edition Whisky

    Aging in rum barrels imparts sweetness and a long aftertaste to the drink.

    The most noticeable accents in the bouquet are malt, banana, tropical fruits, vanilla, sweet spices.

  5. Grant’s 8 Year Old Sherry Cask Edition Whisky

    The drink is aged for 8 years in sherry containers.

    The aroma harmoniously combines notes of green apple, flowers, vanilla and spices.

    The taste surprises with depth and sweetness. Malt notes, shades of dried fruits and wood spices are pronounced.

  6. Grant’s 8 Year Old Whisky

    Whiskey born under the “lucky number”: 8 years of aging led to the creation of one of the best drinks of the manufacturer.

    The aroma plays notes of green apple, cherry, soft vanilla, fresh citruses, spices.

    On the palate there is the sweetness of caramel, vanilla, brown sugar, the playfulness of wood spices, a slight warming hint of smoke.

    Deep malt notes give the bouquet softness and completeness.

  7. Grant’s Rare 18 Year Old Whisky

    Luxurious drink with a multifaceted, deep taste.

    Main notes: honey, spices, nuts, fruits.

    The finish is silky, long, enveloping.

  8. Grant’s 25 Year Old Whisky

    Whiskey for special occasions.

    Prevailing tones: peach flowers, leather, cinnamon, ginger.

    The aftertaste is fresh, sweet, fascinating, with hints of spices.

  9. Grant’s Signature Whisky

    Light drink with aroma of vanilla, candied fruits, caramel and spices.

    Taste: first – crispy and fresh, after – malty, warming with sweetness.

    Main notes: cream, vanilla, coconut, spices.

  10. Grant’s Master Blender’s Edition Whisky

    A special product dedicated to the master blenders of the enterprise.

    The aroma of scotch is slightly spicy, with notes of vanilla, cloves, honey, malted barley.

    The taste is smooth, balanced, with oak tones, honey sweetness, hints of vanilla and chocolate.

    The finish is long, warm, with accents of spices and cocoa beans.

  11. Grant’s Select Reserve Whisky

    An elegant scotch with a subtle sweetish-smoky aroma.

    On the palate, apple-pear notes are combined with hints of peach, cream and vanilla.

    The aftertaste is refined, delicate, with a slight touch of smoke.

  12. Grant’s Family Reserve Whiskey

    A drink that has received several international awards.

    Nose: complex, clean, with notes of sweet pear and summer fruit.

    Taste: balanced, floral-vanilla with hints of malt and peat.

How to distinguish fake Grants

Thanks to the original bottle, Grants whiskey is less often counterfeited than drinks from other well-known brands.

Nevertheless, it will not be superfluous to carefully examine the future acquisition for authenticity:

  1. The label must be pasted evenly, without traces of glue, errors in names, fuzzy printing.

  2. Mandatory for high-quality alcohol is the presence of an excise stamp.

  3. The consistency of this adhesive tape is thick, oily, without sediment and impurities.

    The color is beautiful: gold, amber or honey.

    When shaken, bubbles form large and do not burst for a long time.

  4. On the triangular bottle of some drinks there are raised inscriptions: “Since 1887”, “1887” – at the top, “Wm Grant & Sons” – at the bottom.

    The lid must also be signed.

    You can get acquainted with the original design of specific products on the manufacturer’s website.

  5. The price of original Scotch whiskey should not be low.

It is better to buy an exclusive drink in a specialized store where you can examine the certificate of authenticity.

Relevance: 02.02.2019

Tags: Whiskey and bourbon, Whiskey brands

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