Glen Grant 50s Collection Review/Tasting

Physical Whisky Characteristics

Origin: Distilled at Glen Grant Distillery, Scotland.
Type: Single Malt Scotch Whisky.
Distillation & Maturation: Distilled in the 1950s, with each vintage from 1950 to 1955. Maturation managed by Gordon & MacPhail, an independent bottler.
Age Statement: Whiskies aged over 50 years, with the oldest being 61 years.
Color & Clarity: Varies across vintages, with some having lighter hues due to refill sherry casks and others darker from first-fill sherry butts.
Bottle Design: Presented in a handsome oak case, featuring Gordon & MacPhail's house style label, distinct from regular Glen Grant bottles.

Balance of Flavors: Each vintage offers a unique balance, with common themes of oakiness, fruitiness, and complexity. Some vintages exhibit fresher, fruitier profiles, while others are deeper, with more pronounced oak and spice.
Unique Characteristics: Notable for their age, the whiskies display a remarkable freshness and complexity. Flavors range from berries, spices, caramel, and smokiness to more nuanced notes like beeswax, menthol, and leather.
Comparison: These whiskies stand out for their age and rarity, making direct comparisons difficult. However, their depth and complexity set them apart from younger single malts.

Anecdotes: Horst Luening and his son Ben share personal stories, including a visit to Gordon & MacPhail's warehouses and a tragic tale of a dropped bottle of Glen Grant from 1956.
Trivia: Only 75 sets of the Glen Grant 50s Collection were made, highlighting the exclusivity and rarity of these whiskies.

Historical Context: The whiskies represent a bygone era of whisky production, with distillation techniques and cask types (e.g., European vs. American oak) that differ significantly from modern practices.
Geographical Influence: The influence of the Speyside region, known for its elegant and complex single malts, is evident in the Glen Grant vintages.

"This sequence, we can't interrupt it." - The importance of tasting the collection in a specific order to appreciate the nuances of each vintage.
"You really have to brace yourself for that one." - On the intensity and complexity of the older vintages.
"It's nice, but they all do have a great oak tone." - Reflecting on the unifying characteristic of oak influence across the collection.

The Glen Grant 50s Collection comprises six vintages from 1950 to 1955, each over 50 years old, showcasing a range of complex and nuanced flavors.
Managed by Gordon & MacPhail, the collection is presented in a handsome oak case, with only 75 sets produced worldwide.
The whiskies exhibit a balance of fruitiness, oakiness, and spiciness, with unique characteristics such as beeswax, menthol, and leather.
The collection tells a story of whisky history, craftsmanship, and the Luening family's personal experiences with Glen Grant.
Experts and hosts Horst and Ben Luening appreciate the collection's complexity, rarity, and the distinct oak tones that unify the vintages.

Whisky Collectors: Given the rarity and historical significance, collectors would highly value these whiskies.
Experienced Whisky Enthusiasts: Those with a palate for aged, complex single malts would find the collection fascinating.
Investors: Given the limited production and high demand, investors might see potential value in acquiring a set.