Glen Grant 1936 Gordon & MacPhail Licensed Bottling ‎40% 1936

Professionele reviews

BOW (93)

Serge Valentin (91)

We've tried some Glen Grants that had been distilled even before 1936, but never as a 'single vintage' version. There's no age statement and no neck label on this one, but there's also a 1936 that had been bottled as a 50 yo in bottles and decanters, so indeed the odds are high that this is +/- 50 years too, and consequently bottled circa 1985. Please be sure that we've taken our time and that we're not quaffing this lighter old GG just thirty seconds after we've finished the rather monstrous 1953. No, but you never know. Colour: gold. Nose: a little smokier, a little more metallic, not fragile this far, a little more on waxes than honey, with more walnuts than dried fruits, and so a slightly more oloroso-y profile. Pinewood and embrocations in the background, that's closer. A drop of old apple brandy, perhaps, otherwise toasted brioche and wee hints of menthol and liquorice. It is complex and totally fresh. We're in 1936 and nothing has changed! The 40% do not feel either, but as we always say, the devil is on the palate… Mouth: well, he's not there, apparently. Not the tiniest sign of cardboard, stale tea or dust here, quite the contrary, with perfect oranges and tangerine jams, golden sultanas, some toffee, even butterscotch, mountain honey, a touch of wood smoke, I am reminded of Macallan of old. Stewed bananas in honey and sweet wine, with a little mint. This one's absolutely not tired. Finish: this is where it would start to nosedive, the finish is very short. But still no cardboard, rather a little mead. Comments: I was not sure this one would have survived the new 1953, but it was actually a great little fighter. Let's just forget about the finish (the what?)… Oh and did you know that Buddy Guy was born in 1936?