Sherry sweet and complex Glen Grant 30 Year Old whisky joins Single Malt Glasshouse Collection

The Glen Grant has formally added a 30 Year Old expression to its permanent range. The single malt, which joins a 21 and 25 Year Old in its Glasshouse Collection, was introduced to the whisky world at large with an immersive tasting experience hosted by Master Distiller Greig Stables. 

All three expressions were showcased alongside ‘Optical Resonance,’ a custom art installation that blends light, water, and sound, created by Lachlan Turczan. The Luxe Review was amongst the first to sample the three decade old expression, along with its younger siblings.

The Glasshouse Collection takes its name and inspiration from Glen Grant’s history, and pays homage to James ‘The Major’ Grant, the distillery’s forefather. A world traveller and eccentric innovator, Grant built a Victorian-style glasshouse in 1886 to nurture exotic plants collected from his adventures. Stables says that the distillery intends to recreate the Glasshouse as part of a long term restoration project.

Just as Grant’s original glasshouse nurtured delicate plants from around the world, the distillery has carefully aged these rare spirits over the decades in their traditional stone dunnage warehouse.

Back when the Speyside distillery was purchased by Campari in 2006, its biggest seller was a 5 year old. Then eight years ago, it stepped away from high volume, low age production, resulting in the 21-, 25- and 30 Year Olds we see here. The distillery has also lent more towards Oloroso sherry casks, as opposed to bourbon casks, while maintaining its light and fruity DNA.

The Glasshouse Collection is the final release under the guidance of Master Distiller Dennis Malcolm OBE, and marks the end of a career spanning more than six decades. 

Lachlan Turczan Optical Resonance is a cymantic spectale

Adding an artistic dimension to the tasting experience, guests at the Glasshouse launch were treated to an exclusive viewing of Lachlan Turczan’s Optical Resonance, an immersive art installation that explores the interplay between light and water.

The installation uses cymantics, a technique for visualising sound vibrations in water, to create dynamic reflections and patterns, to mirror the subtle and complex changes that take place during whisky maturation. 

“Cymantics is the visualisation of soundwaves through water, and I’ve paired three different cymantic tones with these amazing Glen Grant whiskies,” explained Turczan. “With Optical Resonance I aimed to highlight the nuances of changing light throughout the day, paired with each whisky. From the gentle ripples of dawn embodied by the 21-Year-Old, to the mesmerising cymantic patterns of the moonlit 30-Year-Old.”

Glen Grant 30-Year-Old tasting notes

Bottled at 48% ABV,  this premium release benefits from a drop of water, to open it up. The whisky is 60 per cent sherry casks and a 20/20 split of remade hogsheads and bourbon casks. Unlike its Glasshouse Collection stablemates, the nose is subdued, offering gentle wafts of nectarine, honey, and dried fruit. On the palate, there are notes of fruit and sugary sweetness. I found it creamy, complex and intriguing.

Glen Grant 25-Year-Old tasting notes

Bottled at 46% ABV, the 25 Year Old is crafted from 40 per cent sherry casks, with the balance sourced from hogshead and bourbon barrels. This 25 Year Old offers rich Christmas cake and honey on the nose, and festive spices and dark chocolate on the palate. For me, there were Orange Matchmakers aplenty, with a hint of marmalade. It’s a wonderfully indulgent dram.

Glen Grant 21-Year-Old tasting notes

Bottled at 46% ABV, the 21-Year-Old is said to represent the first light of dawn. Its hue is once again influenced by three types of wood: 20 per cent sherry casks, plus remade hogsheads and bourbon casks. On the nose, there are stewed fruits and honey, with sweet raisins, figs and crème brûlée on the palate. The mouthfeel is silky smooth.

Available in select markets worldwide, including the US, UK, and Asia, the Glen Grant Glasshouse Collection is priced at £250 for the 21 Year Old, and £734 for the 25 Year Old. The 30 Year Old is currently TBC.

To pick up The Glen Grant whiskies, from 10 Years Old, head over to the Whisky Exchange.