Cover The Glen Grant 65-Year-Old whisky from the Splendours Collection makes its debut
The Glen Grant 65-Year-Old whisky from the Splendours Collection makes its debut
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The 65-Year-Old whisky is one of The Glen Grant’s oldest releases to date, and it pays homage to the Himalayan blue poppy which the founder James “The Major Grant” discovered in his global travels in the 1900s
When Greig Stables, the master distiller of The Glen Grant, is in need of inspiration, he often finds himself wandering through the sprawling Garden of Splendours, located within the grounds of the distillery. “It’s a magical place to go and have a think,” muses Stables about the distillery’s Victorian-themed garden filled with exotic plants and fruits that founder James “The Major” Grant collected over the years.
Stables, who has been with the distillery for two decades, shares with Tatler that the best time to visit is in June when the Himalayan blue poppies are in full bloom. With their striking azure colour, these flowers have become the embodiment of the founder’s innovative and adventurous spirit, acquired through his expeditions to the Himalayas in the early 1900s.
The flower is now the logo of the distillery and its floral motifs are etched into its high-age whisky bottles. It is also the inspiration behind The Glen Grant’s latest release, the 65-Year-Old single malt Scotch whisky, which was globally launched in Hong Kong last month as part of the new Splendours Collection paying homage to the Garden of Splendours.
Read more: The Glen Grant honours its heritage by staying true to tradition while embracing innovation
For Stables, the 65-Year-Old whisky is a fitting introduction to the exquisite collection, which will comprise some of the oldest and rarest whiskies maturing in the Warehouse No.4, the distillery’s storied traditional stone dunnage warehouse. He adds: “Despite its age, The Glen Grant DNA is present... the signature orchard fruit characters, now rich and plump with dark notes, remain distinct without the excessive oakiness.”
“When whiskies are aged for 50 years or more, you are looking at a completely different vintage,” he says. He lets on that in order to catch the liquid at its peak flavour, he kept watch of it for many years like a “baby that’s sleeping in that warehouse”. So, how does he know that the whisky has reached its peak? He elaborates that at the age of 65, “this is a whisky I could drink all day, and that’s the testament to it being picked at the right time.”
Sampling the exquisite whisky at the launch in Hong Kong, we first notice the liquid’s deep mahogany colour—a clear sign of its age given that the spirit was distilled in 1958 in taller and slender copper stills, then matured in French oak butt for over six decades. The initial aroma has no big punch of alcohol, but it is redolent of sweet molasses and juicy blackberries. These notes evolve into rich cherries interspersed with hints of smoke and light oakiness. Taking a sip of the liquid—bottled at 55.5% ABV—Stables notes “The Glen Grant finish keeps on giving” as he alludes to the flavours that just stays on the palate.
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Above The decanter is crafted to resemble a Mobius strip seed pod
The decanter is crafted to resemble a Mobius strip seed pod
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There are only 151 decanters available worldwide, designed by award-winning craftsman John Galvin and bespoke glassmaker Glasstorm. In coming up with its unique design, Galvin and Nairn explored the garden and saw the cherry trees—one of the plant species The Major discovered in his travels—thriving in the garden.
The cherry wood then became the base of the flowing sculpture, resembling a Mobius strip seed pod that represents the timelessness of nature. Cradled within this sculpture is the handcrafted, teardrop-shaped glass vessel held together by rose gold-plated metal brass engraved with Himalayan blue poppies. “A real harmony exists between these elements—metal, wood, glass and the liquid’s colour—and this works beautifully in showcasing the 65-Year-Old whisky,” expresses Galvin.
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To celebrate the global launch of their latest high-aged whisky, The Glen Grant collaborated with London-based artist duo Random International, who created drawings of flowers and plants inspired by the four seasons using their signature pixelography. This technique, which the duo pioneered over a decade ago, transforms reproducible digital source data into limited edition hand-painted artworks.
With the launch of the 65-Year-Old whisky, we ask Stables what is next for the Splendours Collection. With an extensive inventory of casks, built for decades, he admits that he already has something in mind, but “I just have to catch it at its peak”.
Credits
Images: The Glen Grant
Dudi Aureus is the senior dining and travel editor at Tatler Singapore, covering the city’s most exciting restaurants, global travel trends, and the personalities shaping the culinary and lifestyle scenes. She also serves as co-jury chair for the Tatler Best awards in Singapore, celebrating the very best in hospitality. When she’s off duty, she can often be found at a favourite hole-in-the-wall Thai spot, savouring a perfectly balanced pad thai.
