Naked Malt — formerly sold as The Naked Grouse before a rebrand in 2021 — is Edrington's sherried blended malt, built around the same Highland Park and Macallan malt that forms the backbone of The Famous Grouse. The difference is that Naked Malt uses only malt whisky, no grain, and the blend is finished in first-fill oloroso sherry casks. The result is a significantly more interesting whisky than its parent brand, and at only a few pounds more, it represents a substantial upgrade in quality and character.
The sherry cask finishing is the decisive factor. It adds a dried fruit sweetness and a depth that the standard Famous Grouse entirely lacks, and the all-malt composition gives the whisky enough body to carry the wood influence convincingly. The Highland Park contribution, with its gentle smokiness, and the Macallan's sherried richness are both discernible beneath the blending, lending a pedigree that the price barely acknowledges.
Naked Malt is one of the most underpriced whiskies in the current market. A sherried blended malt at this price, built on malt from two of Scotland's most respected distilleries, offers value that few competitors can match. It lacks the complexity of a premium single malt, but for everyday drinking — especially for those who enjoy sherried whisky — it delivers genuine flavour and quality at a democratic price. The rebrand from Naked Grouse may have cost it some brand recognition, but the liquid in the bottle remains as reliable as ever.
