Whiskies from Glen Grant have all the time felt like very strong whisky staples to me. Alongside each Glenfiddich and The Glenlivet, they’re all the time available at most bottle shops in my space, and often at a really affordable value level.
Arboralis appears to be the latest launch from Glen Grant which lastly made its strategy to South Africa on the finish of final 12 months, and it’s now broadly accessible in different elements of the world too. Apparently (and oddly, to my thoughts) it has already been accessible for numerous years in locations like Australia, because it was launched in 2020 for the distillery’s a hundred and eightieth anniversary in choose markets.
The Glen Grant distillery, which is situated in Rothes within the Speyside area of Scotland, was based in 1840 by brothers John and James Grant. The brothers really was whisky smugglers and have been concerned in some illicit distilling earlier than they utilized for a license to distil in 1839.
Each the Grant brothers, and Main James Grant (James Grant’s son) who ended up inheriting the distillery, have been eager innovators – one thing which had an influence on the distillery itself. In reality, Glen Grant was among the many very first distilleries to introduce electrical lighting. The Grant brothers additionally performed pivotal roles in growing the railway system within the Speyside area, and so helped to sort out a few of challenges confronted in transporting items, particularly whisky. This transportation development not solely benefited their very own distillery, it was additionally a contributing issue to the expansion of different distilleries within the space.
Main James Grant, sometimes called “The Main,” (and also you’ll in all probability be accustomed to Glen Grant’s entry-level providing named in his honour, “The Majors Reserve”) was supposedly the primary particular person within the Highlands to personal a automotive. He’s additionally the one that was behind the present design of the distillery’s tall, slender pot stills which now produce fairly a fragile and fruity new make spirit.
Along with their whisky, the Glen Grant distillery can also be well-known for its expansive and superbly maintained gardens. Established by the Main, these gardens are dwelling to a various assortment of unique fruit timber and flowering crops gathered throughout his travels throughout the globe. In keeping with the distillery, the fragrances and flavours from all these unique crops and fruit timber present inspiration for most of the flavours and aromas you’ll discover of their whisky in the present day.
This connection between the backyard and whisky-making is greater than a romantic notion. The concept that the backyard may function a sort of ‘nosing package’ and supply a sensible benefit for these crafting whisky could be very fascinating. A ‘nosing package’ or an ‘aroma package’ sometimes consists of a set of small bottles that include concentrated aromas meant to assist one develop and refine one’s sense of odor, and so improve one’s expertise of a whisky.
Whereas these kits could seem to some like a merely wonderful advertising gimmick, the concept behind them makes lots of sense. One won’t do an excellent job of choosing out all of the aromas in a whisky if one’s sense of odor could be very restricted or inexperienced. For instance, if one is just not accustomed to the odor of cedar then one could wrestle to confidently differentiate this from the odor of pine. By familiarising themselves with a wide range of those particular person aromas, individuals may give themselves precise factors of reference and prepare their olfactory senses to recognise and admire the various vary of flavours and aromas that may be present in whisky.
On a latest hike by native fynbos I encountered some heather on the aspect of the path. Heather is a word that I generally hear others cite in sure whiskies. When tasting these whiskies, I’ve typically felt that I’ve some sense of which word individuals should be referring to, however I used to be additionally conscious that I lacked a transparent and distinct impression of the aroma of heather. I’ve a barely clearer reference level now (and it’s loads more energizing than I’d thought, and, surprisingly, ever so barely citrusy too). Whereas I’ll now solely have a greater concept of what heather native to that exact space (and soaked with rain) smells like, the expertise underscored the worth of direct interplay with varied aromas and flavours in enhancing one’s means to understand whisky.
Very similar to a nosing package, the suggestion is that Glen Grant’s gardens have served as a sensory library for the distillery’s crew. For a grasp blender, having direct entry to the wealthy, pure aromas of fruits, flowers, and woods can sharpen their olfactory reminiscence, enabling them to establish and steadiness these notes with better precision when choosing and mixing totally different casks.
The Glen Grant gardens, with its giant number of timber, flowering crops, winding pathways, streams and waterfalls, can also be a highly regarded attraction for vacationers visiting the distillery. And the identify “Arboralis,” derived from Latin that means “mild from throughout the timber,” was purportedly impressed by the dappled daylight you may see filtering by the timber of their magnificent gardens.
Wanting extra intently on the whisky itself: Arboralis is a non-age-statement single malt – however, based on Dennis Malcolm (the Grasp Distiller when Arboralis was first launched), it typically accommodates whisky that has been aged someplace between 5 and ten years. It’s matured in a mix of ex-bourbon barrels and ex-Oloroso sherry casks, and is bottled at an approachable 40% ABV (though right here in South Africa you’ll discover it bottled at 43% ABV). In my space, a bottle of Glent Grant’s Arboralis prices round $28 (which is roughly the identical as a bottle of Glenmorangie X, or a bottle of Auchentoshan American Oak).
Glen Grant Arboralis – Assessment
Color: Honey gold.
On the nostril: Crimson apples, pears and melons. There’s a comfortable floral undertone, complemented by vanilla sweetness. A contact of caramel. There are additionally delicate traces of citrus which provides a sure freshness to the nostril.
Within the mouth: Fairly a creamy texture. It’s initially candy and spicy. Baked apple crumble, brimming with baking spices and notes of dried fruit – raisins and sultanas. The gentlest trace of coconut. Some comfortable vanilla notes linger within the mouth for a while, giving strategy to some barely drying, oaky spice.
Upon nosing the empty glass I observed a candy and far richer woody aroma than beforehand detected.
Conclusion:
Total, I loved this whisky. Whereas Arboralis is probably not probably the most complicated whisky in Glen Grant’s lineup, it’s a nice introduction to their vary – and it’s inexpensive. Its approachable flavour profile makes it perfect for informal sipping, although some whisky drinkers may discover themselves craving a bit extra depth or complexity.
That mentioned, Arboralis may function place to begin for anybody who’s excited by exploring Speyside single malts. The area is understood for producing whiskies with a predominantly fruity and floral character, and Arboralis has managed to seize this character fairly properly.
