Glen Grant 1948 Gordon & MacPhail Private Collection Cask 2154 48.6% 1948

Distillery	Glen Grant
Bottler	Gordon & MacPhail
Serie	Private Collection
Bottled for
Distilled date	1948
Bottling date	2018
Country	Scotland
Region	Speyside
Age	70
Cask Type	First Fill Sherry butt
Cask Number	2154
Alcohol percentage	48.6
Volume	0,70
Condition	In Original Wooden Case
Label	Perfect
Stock	1

Professional reviews

Whisky Notes (91)

Nose: starts on typical brass polish with a sweet, honeyed undertone. Rubbed petals, hints of fennel and cut herbs. Mentholated notes, maybe teak oil. After Eight. Cigar boxes. Apricots and orange peel. In the background there’s a hint of dried porcini and old books. A whiff of smoke and old leather as well. A bit fragile but really great complexity.

Mouth: a surprisingly dark profile which the colour of the whisky doesn’t suggest. Mexican chocolate, smoke and tobacco leaves. Coffee or even tar liqueur. Old Pu-Erh. Sappy oak. Then cardamom, cloves, aniseed and cough syrup. Very herbal towards the end (reminding me of an old Jerez Quina I once had).

Finish: medium, with many teas and herbs, a sourness of charred oak but also dark cocoa.

Always a pleasure to try such an old malt. Maybe not because it is the best whisky ever, but because such old drams are so different from all others. Oak influenced of course but not tannic. Excellent.

BOW (92)

A Timeless Elixir of Elegance


In the realm of extraordinary and rare whiskies, the Glen Grant 1948 Gordon & MacPhail Private Collection Cask 2154 stands tall as a testament to the passage of time and the art of maturation. This exceptional single malt scotch whisky was distilled in 1948 and bottled in 2018 by the renowned independent bottler Gordon & MacPhail for their esteemed Private Collection series. With a maturation period of an astounding 70 years in a First Fill Sherry butt, this expression represents the pinnacle of elegance and sophistication. Let us embark on a journey through the enchanting qualities that make this whisky a true marvel.

A Living History:
Glen Grant, a venerable distillery nestled in the Speyside region of Scotland, holds a storied legacy that dates back to its founding in 1840. The Glen Grant 1948 is a living testament to the distillery's heritage, embodying the meticulous craftsmanship and unparalleled expertise passed down through generations.

Maturation in a First Fill Sherry Butt:
The choice of a First Fill Sherry butt for maturation imparts an exquisite depth of flavor and complexity to the whisky. Cask 2154, carefully selected for this expression, has nurtured the spirit for an astounding 70 years. Throughout this extended period, the whisky has absorbed the rich and luscious characteristics of the sherry-soaked oak, resulting in a harmonious fusion of dried fruits, spices, and the finest oak influences. The interaction between the whisky and the cask has given birth to a whisky that is resplendent in its depth and complexity.

Tasting Notes courtesy of Words of Whisky:
Major points for complexity on the nose. Regardless of age, this is a style of whisky that’s currently not made anymore. The industrial side of it is truly remarkable.

Nose
Quite herbacious and somewhat industrial, with whispers of soot and diesel oil, as well as a whiff of earthy peat and smoke. It has a subtle floral side too, but it has a hard time standing up to notes of licorice, menthol and mushrooms, as well as soy sauce and furniture polish. There’s touches of salted caramel, honey, toasted oak and orange peel too. Elegant, beautifully complex and wonderfully balanced.

Taste
A good amount of dark caramel and cigar tobacco, accompanied by notes of mocha and menthol. Maybe even a whiff of peat smoke. Oranges (of the fairly acidic variety) as well as earl grey tea and shoe wax. A whisper of aceto balsamico too.

Finish
Lingering aniseed, orange liqueur and tobacco, with finally a whisper of cocoa powder. Medium in length.

A Testament to Rarity:
The release of the Glen Grant 1948 Gordon & MacPhail Private Collection Cask 2154 is an extraordinary occasion for whisky enthusiasts and collectors alike. With only a limited number of bottles available, each with its unique ABV of 48.6%, this whisky serves as a testament to its rarity and exclusivity. Its age, combined with the expertise of Gordon & MacPhail, makes it a highly sought-after treasure among connoisseurs.

Conclusion:
The Glen Grant 1948 Gordon & MacPhail Private Collection Cask 2154 is a whisky that embodies the essence of time, craftsmanship, and the finest sherry cask maturation. With its remarkable flavors, elegant character, and rare 70-year age statement, it offers a timeless elixir of sophistication and refinement. For those fortunate enough to experience its magnificence, it provides a sensory journey through the history and finest flavors of the Speyside region.