Glen Grant Distillery

Glen Grant’s story

Glen Grant is a large distillery based in the heart of the Speyside region of Scotland. The distillery is located in Rothes and is the oldest of four distilleries in the Speyside town. The others are Glenrothes (1878), Glen Spey (also 1878) and Speyburn (1897).

Glen Grant is one of the world’s best selling single malts and is particularly popular in Italy and southern Europe. Glen Grant has been No.1 in Italy since the early 1970s. The extensive range of whiskies have won multiple awards worldwide.

Glen Grant is known for its ‘classic Speyside’ style of single malt. This style is soft, gentle, fresh and approachable with green orchard fruit such as apple and pear prominent. This light and delicate style works particularly well when matured in ex-bourbon barrels, which feature heavily in the line-up of the core range.

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Glen Grant’s history

Glen Grant was founded in 1840 by brothers James and John Grant. A significant figure in Glen Grant’s history was James Grant Jr. He was James’ son and inherited the distillery after his father had died in 1872. His uncle John Grant had died a few years earlier in 1864. James Jr. was known as ‘The Major’ and inspired a boom in production and sales of Glen Grant, and expanded the distillery.

The Major also built Glen Grant No.2 when the original distillery could not be expanded further. This was located opposite Glen Grant and founded in 1897. However, it closed in 1902 and did not restart production until 1965. It was renamed Caperdonich and operated until 2002. The distillery buildings demolished in 2010.

The Major died in 1931 and Glen Grant was inherited by another important figure – his grandson Major Douglas Mackessack. He oversaw further growth and expansion for almost 50 years, despite being a Prisoner of War during World War II.

He also worked with importer Armando Giovinetti to begin selling Glen Grant in Italy in 1961. This resulted in a boom in sales and led to the brand becoming the best-selling Scotch whisky in Italy by the early 1970s.

Mackessack died in 1978 and the Grant family connection ended with the distillery sold to Seagrams. Diageo and Pernod Ricard purchased Seagrams in 2001 and split the Scotch whisky assets. Glen Grant went to Chivas Brothers, but was later sold to current owners Gruppo Campari in 2006. They purchased due to the brand’s continued popularity in Italy.

• How to pronounce Glen Grant? glen-grant
• Country: Scotland
• Region: Speyside
• Founded: 1840
• Current owners: Gruppo Campari
• Production capacity per year: 6.2 million litres
• Mash tun: 12.3 tonnes
• Washbacks: 10
• Stills: 8
• Visitor centre: Yes

The Glen Grant Distillery
Elgin Road
Rothes, Banffshire
AB38 7BS
tel – +44(0)1340 832118
www.glengrant.com

Did you know?

James ‘The Major’ Grant Jr. commissioned a huge Victorian garden in 1886. This covered a 20-acre site behind the distillery and stretches away up the glen. Features included flowerbeds, formal lawns and orchards, plus a hidden waterfall. The gardens remain open for visitors today.