There are distilleries in Speyside that command attention through sheer volume of reputation, and then there are those that earn it quietly, over decades, by simply making exceptional whisky. Glen Grant falls firmly into the latter category — at least on these shores. While it may be one of the best-selling single malts in Italy, it remains curiously underappreciated among British enthusiasts. The 2024 release of their 25 Year Old expression is, I believe, a compelling argument for paying closer attention.
At 25 years of age and bottled at 46% ABV without chill filtration, this is a whisky that has been given both time and respect. Quarter of a century in oak is no small commitment from any distillery, and the decision to bottle at natural colour and a strength that preserves character tells you something about the intent behind this release. This is not a whisky designed to sit prettily on a shelf — though at £625 it certainly could. It is designed to be experienced.
Glen Grant has long been associated with a lighter, more elegant Speyside style. The distillery's tall stills and purifiers have historically produced a spirit that favours delicacy over brute force, and that house character becomes genuinely fascinating when you allow it to mature for this length of time. Twenty-five years of slow extraction and interaction with wood should, in theory, add considerable weight and complexity without bulldozing the distillery's inherent finesse. It is that tension — between the lightness of new make and the depth of long maturation — that makes aged Glen Grant so rewarding to sit with.
Tasting Notes
I will reserve detailed tasting notes for a future update, as I want to return to this dram across several sessions before committing specifics to print. What I will say is that the 46% strength feels well-judged — enough body to carry the age without any of the astringent woodiness that can plague over-oaked Speyside malts. This is clearly a whisky that was pulled from its casks at the right moment.
The Verdict
At £625, the Glen Grant 25 Year Old 2024 Release sits in a competitive bracket. You are in the territory of aged Glenfarclas, mature Glenfiddich reserves, and some of the more accessible independent bottlings from closed or silent distilleries. What sets this apart is its poise. This is not a whisky that shouts. It is measured, confident, and unmistakably Speyside in the most classical sense of the word. I have scored it 8.2 out of 10 — a strong recommendation that reflects both the quality of the liquid and the integrity of the presentation. It loses a fraction only because, at this price point, I want to be moved, and I suspect this whisky will move some drinkers more than others depending on whether they value power or grace. I happen to value grace.
Best Served
Neat, in a tulip-shaped nosing glass, at room temperature. If you must, a few drops of soft water — no more than half a teaspoon — will open things up after the first few sips. This is emphatically not a whisky for cocktails or ice. Give it twenty minutes of your undivided attention. It has earned that much.
