Glen Grant 20yo, 1996-2016, Fairy Tales - Special Edition
ABV: 54.4%
Region: Speyside
Price per bottle: °°°
Bottling: eSpirits Whisky for Liquid Treasures
Cask type: Bourbon Hogshead

Colour: Straw.
Nose: The nose starts off with lingering vanilla, subtle butterscotch and yellow fruits - mirabelles, apricots, peaches and tangerines. Flowery with a hint of oak in the back. The alcohol is present but not pungent.
Palate: Sweet on the palate as the nose suggests with lots of fruity flavours, mainly apricots and tangerines. Vanilla and warming spices of oak, ginger and white pepper nicely linger with a touch of blossom honey in the back.
Finish: The finish is medium long, subtle sweet but becomes dry with time. Tender bitter orange peel with flowery notes and a hint of hay on the tail.
With water: Water tames a bit of the alcoholic bite bringing more fruity and flowery notes to the fore. Still fruity on the palate with a tamed sweetness and prickling oak on the tongue. Slightly warming with increased bitter notes of tangerine peel towards the finish. The finish shows medium length with slightly warming spices, very dry oak and black pepper on the tail.
Comments: An enticing nose and lively palate! A Speysider with a rich fruitiness, plenty of vanilla and warming spices. Big in body and flavour. A dry character when diluted, enhancing the pepperiness.

I thank Dailydram.de for the sample and the photograph!

Glen Grant 1964, Gordon & MacPhail, 1964-2006, Licensed Bottling
ABV: 40%
Region: Speyside
Price per bottle: °°°°°
Bottling: Licensed
Cask type: Refill sherry casks


Colour: Amber.
Nose: Quite rich and complex on the nose. Lots of sweet sherry flavours, along with dried red and tropical fruits - dates, raisins, and baked red apples - and subtle notes of beeswax. This is well balanced with lingering winter spice, cloves in particular, along with fine marzipan, a hint of cedarwood and subtle smoke. With time, delicate bitter orange peel aroma emerges with chocolate notes in the back. A gorgeous nose!
Palate: Full-bodied and bursting with flavour. Spicy taste of cinnamon, cloves, white pepper and aniseed complemented by a lingering sherry sweetness and rich fruit cake, dark cherries, dates, raisins, and orange jam. Quite rich and well-balanced with gentle marzipan, a whiff of menthol and subtle wood smoke. Extremely delicate!
Finish: Full and long with a creamy sweetness of sherried fruits, lingering winter spice, gentle oak and a touch of wood smoke. Nicely warming with a bit of dryness on the tail.
With water: Still rich and sweet on the nose with a well-balanced spiciness. The palate stays sweet with lots of tropical fruits and delicate winter spice. The finish is long, with creamy sweetness and gentle marzipan.
Comments: A brilliant malt whisky! Outstanding and worth every cent. Rich, intense, full-bodied with a beautiful balance of Speyside and perfect maturation in sherry casks. Delicate multilayered spice, savoury fruitiness and harmonious wood smoke, without any bitterness. No water needed. Over 40 years old and incredible value for a whisky of this age. A superb Glen Grant of seductive charm.