Whisky, the water of life, is made from just four ingredients and yet from Scotland to Australia, America to Ireland and back to Scotland there are hugely different tastes and styles that help engage this category with so many people.
Indeed, if someone says ‘I don’t like whisky’ the classic response is simply ‘no, you just haven’t found the whisky you do like yet’.
Even Scotland on its own has a wide variety of tastes and flavours. From the smooth and aromatic qualities of Speyside to the smoky and peaty whiskies from Islay; each distillery has unique methods and equipment to give each whisky an individual style and profile.
The Glen Grant, for instance, which was founded in 1840 in Rothes Speyside, uses hand-designed, tall and slender stills. Used alongside distinctive purifiers The Glen Grant boasts a remarkable double distillation process which captures only the finest vapours, resulting in a refined and smooth taste.
The process is used across the complete The Glen Grant range comprising The Major’s Reserve, 10 Year Old, 12 Year Old, 12 Year Old Non Chill-Filtered, Cask Haven, 15 Year Old, 18 Year Old and a selection of limited edition bottles. Each of these drams is renowned for a smooth taste, and yet each has its own distinct flavour and aroma that perfectly captures the spirit of The Glen Grant’s heartland.
Speyside is one of the world’s most renowned whisky regions, with around 50 per cent of Scotland’s whisky made in the region by approximately 50 distilleries. The water from the River Spey is said to have the lowest level of dissolved minerals of any area in Scotland.
The Glen Grant is still produced in Rothes, and as part of the global celebration that is World Whisky Day, The Glen Grant is launching a new whisky expression.
Arboralis, which means “light from within the trees” is a bright, golden single malt Scotch whisky, aged in ex-Bourbon and ex-Spanish Sherry oak casks and sheltered by tall, ancient trees lining the Victorian Gardens of The Glen Grant Distillery.
Master Distiller Dennis Malcolm says that Arboralis celebrates the complex flavour profile that the world renowned distillery is famous for, while introducing a new taste experience – emblematic of both the distillery’s storied past as well as its journey into the next exciting chapter.
“We are very proud of our newest single malt, which we joke is our very own ‘liquid gold,” says Malcolm. “It’s particularly exciting to launch this product on the year of our 180th anniversary, to not only celebrate the heritage and legacy of The Glen Grant, but also to inspire future generations of Scotch enthusiasts. We take so much pride in creating our unique expressions, and we’re delighted to unveil this exceptional new addition.”
Nurtured in traditional dunnage warehouses, Arboralis is an unmistakable tribute to the legendary Glen Grant flavour profile.
In terms of flavour profile and tasting notes the newest single malt Scotch in The Glen Grant range “beams with an enticing, bright gold colour, floral and fruity aromas of dried raisins, honeysuckle, oaky malt notes and hints of lemon citrus”.
On the palate, it delivers notes of oak and butterscotch, which merge with dried fruits, followed by a touch of light spice. With a long finish, notes of malt, vanilla and pear linger.
World Whisky Day invites everyone to try a dram and celebrate the water of life and while there are usually events taking place all over the world, this year they will move into a virtual space. But the celebrations are still to be had and why not take the opportunity this year to celebrate with a new dram from distillery with over 180 years of prestige and history and an award-winning portfolio.