Glen Grant 18 Year

Rating: 17/23 N: Citrus (tangerine, orange, lemon) mixed with the most lightly toasted bread. Oddly, butter. The faintest hint of malty sweetness, but it's very mild. Something a hair oily P: Smooth, mellow, spicy (black pepper and ginger mostly), faint oil, but it's super clean and neutral. The mouthfeel is decently full. There's a hint of something papery (with a bit of a mature complexity to it) and not a whiff of sulphur. Plenty of vanilla comes out, bringing a little bit of a fresh oak barrel quality to this. A little bit of toastiness with grain. There's nevertheless sort of a clean water sweetness to this. There is that faint butter flavor to this. A dash of alcohol, but it isn't too bad. A hint of manuka honey - or maybe that's just a dash of while pepper mixed with the other flavors. The balance here is great, but there isn't a ton going on. The complexity is fairly minimal and the flavors aren't super interesting. There certainly isn't anything objectionable though. This has passed the level of drams with decently good flavors that are muddled together and entered the level of Distinct, well-executed flavors, but it doesn't have anything great or a whole lot going on. Still, there is at least a lager of maturity in the paperiness and toasted grain. F: Vanilla. Citrus. occasional hints of spice. A light backing of toasty grain. - Conclusion - This has to be the least offensive scotch ever. It's not amazing, but it certainly is good. I just really want something more interesting. This is a far cry from the richness, maturity, and complexity of Carn Mor's 26 year old Glen Grant independent bottling, which is itself not incredibly complex, full or mature. I get that particular south highlands flavor to this in spades. If that's what you want, this is a great choice I personally want something more interesting though. Still, I'm looking at a 14 to 16 for this. I'm going with the 15, but generally I expect better from such an old scotch. There's a more refined character here that definitely beats Pure Scot Virgin Oak with its alcohol showing through, so I'm not going to go under a 15 for this. Could it really be a 16 though? Maybe. If so, I should consider moving the 26 year old Glen Grant from Carn Mor up to an 18. There's a decidedly improved complexity and better balance here than Dalmore 12 has, even though the Dalmore is richer. The Dalmore is definitely more muddled and less appealing. This also taste more mature than Mortlach 15 Six Kingdoms, but that one is more complex and interesting. They're moderately different stylistically, but I'm inclined to say that they're neck-and-neck quality-wise, so they'll probably both be 15s or 16s. I'm now leaning toward 16s for both. The more I try this, the more it grows on me. The flavors really stand out and there is a subtle layer deep down that adds a lot. This has a more subtle complexity than Loch Lomond 12 (16), but its variety of character is less abundant and both are nicely balanced. I go back and forth in terms of which I prefer. Shockingly, I think I'd lean toward this if I had to choose between the two - assuming I had a fairly fresh palate, of course. Carn Mor's Glen Grant 26 (1992) definitely beats this. The competitions with Loch Lomond 12 and Mortlach Six Kingdoms are closer. I think I might prefer this over the Loch Lomond, but the Mortlach is closer. I'm presently inclined to give both this and the Mortlach a 16. That 26 year old Glen Grant from Carn Mor might be more of an 18. I'm not sure to what extent it's (a tiny amount of) air in the bottle or a different palate or what, but that one has really grown on me. I did consider a 17 for a little bit, but I decided against it. Actually, in a last moment comparison with Mortlach 15 and Loch Lomond 12, this has a nice balance of complexity and maturity that I think earns a 17. I really didn't think I'd give this such a high rating. I'm finding this surprisingly competitive with Highland Park Wings Of The Eagle, though not quite as rich. The Highland Park has more of a new oak character to it, giving more of a youthful impression, but it's still quite good. Between the two, I find the Highland Park to be a bit better, but the difference isn't massive. To me, this is closer in quality to Highland Park Wings of the Eagle than Mortlach Six Kingdoms is.

I’ve been a fan of Jim Murray’s Whisky Bible for a while now, so when he rated Glen Grant 18 “Scotch Whisky of the Year” these last 3 years in a row, I felt it time to give it a try. Additionally, over this same period, he also awarded this spirit two 2nds and a 3rd for his top honor of “World Whisky of the Year.“ Maybe it’s a coincidence, or maybe it’s the product of his refined palate, but over the years many of Mr. Murray’s top selections have become highly collectible, and I often times find myself agreeing with his assessments, similar to what I once recall @cascode stating. The Glen Grant 18 turns out to be a class act. Considering the time spent in ex-bourbon casks, it appears surprisingly light and reminiscent of Chardonnay. One would have to assume these barrels to be treble-filled to impart such a delicate shade of distinction after so much time. Tall, slender stills turn out this expression, so a soft, fruity, and fragrant speyside nose seems befitting for the first pass of the glass. Bottled at 43% ABV, and sporting viscous legs, the whisky rolls over the tongue in smooth and satisfying fashion. Well delineated, flashes of sweet vanilla are mixed with malt and baking spices in such a way that the overall effect seems to vacillate between good scotch and good rye, as its fragile elements pop into and out of existence like photons at the quantum level. Unique and intriguing, I can understand Murray’s fascination with this complex offering as it challenges one’s sensitivities to its various nuances. Every sitting with this whisky seems like a new episode in discovery and I would recommend it with a rating of 4.25 stars.

Nose: Toasted walnuts, vanilla, honey, crisp apples, caramel, pears Palette: toasted marshmallow, cotton candy candy, honey, green and red apples, light pears, light spiced, slightly nutty Finish: Medium to long, sweet, oily, oaky Very easy to drink and welcoming for anyone looking for a delicate and beautiful scotch. IMHO edges out among a lot of other 18 year old scotches if peat isn’t your thing. Might be a bit boring if you’re looking for something complex and multi layered. Overall a very solid and beautiful 18 year old.

After a long wait, I finally opened my bottle. This scotch was name best scotch in 2018 by Jim Murray, and I wasn’t disappointed. The nose was honey and sweet with notes of flowers, very appealing to my senses. The palate was fruity with notes of citrus and honey, and the finish was long and enjoyable. For a 43%ABV, the finish was long and spicy. Overall, this is one that I will enjoy on those special nights.

Wonderful. Scent of hazelnuts and licorice. Light caramel with floral notes on the palate. Very long and enjoyable finish, almost creepy. Well done. ___________________________________________________________________________ Una meraviglia. Profumo di nocciole e liquirizia. Leggero caramello con note floreali al palato. Finale lunghissimo e da goduria, quasi da brividi. Bravi.

Nose: Vanilla, Raisins, Figs, Sultanas, Peaches, Cherries, Apricots, Grapefruits, Pears, Green Apples, Cherries, White Chocolate, Marshmallows Palate: Toasted Honey, Caramel, Walnuts, Brown Sugar, Pears, Grilled Peaches, Almond, Oranges, Ginger, White Chocolate, Raisins Finish: Vanilla, White Chocolate, Ginger, Grapefruit, Nutmeg, Cinnamon, Orange Peels, Raisins, Plums