Glen Grant 2009 Connoisseurs Choice Cask Strength 16 yo c. 900941

 

 

 

58,6°

Distillery : The Glen Grant - Speyside

1st Fill Sherry Butt 

Independent Bottling 

By Gordon & MacPhail 

Limited Edition 

Single Cask 

Bottled in 2025

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured, Cask Strength

Totally Unpeated 

 

 

 

Glen Grant is a distillery that is both famous and little-known. Everyone knows of it, but it’s not every day that you get the chance to taste one of its single malts, since most of its production goes into well-known blends. Here we have a 16-year-old expression, having spent its early days in a first-fill sherry butt, which yielded 631 bottles, enough to satisfy everyone’s curiosity. Not to be confused with the sister cask, No. 900933, which was aged in a refill sherry hogshead. 

  

 

 

Let's Taste It : 

The sherry is very lemony and honeyed, almost tart. It features raisins, dates, caramel sauce, oranges, mandarins, kumquats. A generous dose of cinnamon and a hint of bergamot. Mint leaves. On the palate, roasted almonds, crushed walnuts, vanilla and lime. Dried fruits, perhaps exotic, and subtle spices. A long, well-structured finish, apricot jam, shortbread cookies, red currants, nutmeg, and a few subtle mineral and salty notes. Crème brûlée and sandalwood. 

 

In Short, 

I detected a few minor flaws on the nose, along with a slight acidity. It’s better on the palate, and the finish is really good. Overall, it’s not bad at all, but you have to like citrus flavors. It’s a bit of a mixed bag, especially given its age and price, you’d expect better from one of the most renowned independent bottlers. 

Score : 88-

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                             To Be Listened While Sipping : 

                                             Willow Avalon - Hypothetically Speaking

Glen Grant 1995 Whiskyland Chapter Twenty-two 30 yo

 

 

 

46,8°

Distillery : The Glen Grant - Speyside

1 Refill Bourbon Barrel, 1 1st Fill Sherry Hogshead

Independent Bottling 

By Decadent Drinks

Limited Edition 

Single Malt 

Bottled in 2025

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured, Cask Strength

Totally Unpeated 

 

 

 

Let’s take a quick look back, at the end of last year, Decadent Drinks released this little gem, a blend of two casks from the famous Speyside distillery, one a Refill Bourbon Barrel from 1993, the other a 1st Fill Sherry Hogshead from 1995. This means the influence of the sherry will be quite restrained. Only 177 bottles were produced from these two casks, the angels’ share has certainly done its job. 

 

 

 

Let's Taste It : 

The sherry is light and perfectly structured, not at all overpowering, on the contrary it is a small crystalline stream, slightly sticky, crisp caramel, nougat, light but thick honey, resin, mirabelle plums, damp wood, brandied cherries, blackberry tart, malted grains. A zest of citrus, wheat ready for harvest. On the palate, raisin cake, dates, melted chocolate, a drop of vinegar, assorted jams, quinces, red berries, light woodiness, powerful and varied spices. A long, powerful, splashy finish, liquorice, gingerbread, hot chestnuts, cooked mushrooms, it is quite forest-like, even earthy, ferns, roots. 

 

In Short, 

A really nice blend, the sherry notes are balanced by a very subtle Bourbon influence, creating a wonderful balance, with some cereal notes punctuated by red fruits. The alcohol content is quite low, but you don’t feel the lack of body. The price, on the other hand, you can feel it, it’s very high – truly excessive in this case – which makes this a rather extravagant purchase. 

Score : 90

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                           To Be Listened While Sipping : 

 

                                            VLMV - I Am An Officer

SMWS 2003 9.289 Break The Mould Artist #13 SMWS 40th Anniversary 20 yo

 

 

 

53,9°

Distillery : The Glen Grant - Speyside  

1st Fill Oloroso Sherry Hogshead

Independent Bottling 

By Scotch Malt Whisky Society 

Limited Edition 

Single Cask 

Bottled in 2023

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured, Cask Strength

Totally Unpeated

 

 

 

We're still working our way through the 5 bottlings specially distributed by La Maison du Whisky in France to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the Scotch Malt Whisky Society. Unfortunately, I wasn't served the last two, so this will be the last. It's a Glen Grant aged 20 years in an Oloroso Sherry Hogshead. Only 174 bottles were filled, with a label featuring an artwork by Claire Barclay, entitled Unearthing 1.

 

 

 

Let's Taste It : 

Gourmand red fruits, blueberries and blackcurrants, with a mineral and balsamic touch. It's woody, with cinnamon and ginger, very liquoriced, but quite airy. Quince jam, fruit jelly, a few earthy notes. Still very fruity on the palate, with muscat grapes, ripe damsons, velvety cherries, soft caramel and lively spices, cloves and pepper. The finish is long, chocolatey and full-bodied, with hints of arabica, crushed figs and chocolate fondant. Nutmeg, pine needles, heather, brown sugar, sweet pears.

 

In Short, 

I found the whole thing very successful, a fine Sherry perfectly mastered, I was especially delighted by the finish, which is magnificently done, with light floral touches, spices and cocoa. Really, I'd be delighted to buy it, but it's only for the die-hard fans, as the value for money is unbalanced.

Score : 90

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                           To Be Listened While Sipping :

 

                                           The Fyoogs - You Stole the Dark