Grand Old Parr was launched in 1909 by the Greenlees brothers, Samuel and James, who took the name from Thomas Parr of Shropshire — 'Old Tom Parr' — who reputedly died in 1635 at the age of 152 and was buried in Westminster Abbey. His portrait, attributed to the workshop of Rubens, was used as the brand's emblem, and the squat embossed bottle was modelled on an eighteenth century case bottle.
Cragganmore, the Speyside distillery completed in 1869 by John Smith, is generally cited as the heart malt of the blend. Old Parr never found great traction in the United Kingdom but became a phenomenon in Japan and Latin America, particularly Mexico and Colombia, where the squat dark bottle carries a certain old-fashioned prestige.
The 12 Year Old is a sweeter, heavier style than most standard blends — Speyside fruit and honey to the fore, with just enough smoke and oak to keep it from collapsing into confection. It is a blend to be taken seriously at the price, and its export history alone makes it worth the shelf.
