Glen Grant 1952 - 2022 First Fill Sherry Butt #381 Private Collection

Speyside Single Malt Scotch Whisky

Glen Grant 1952 - 2022 First Fill Sherry Butt #381 Private Collection
  • Glen Grant 1952 - 2022 First Fill Sherry Butt #381 Private Collection
  • Glen Grant 1952 - 2022 First Fill Sherry Butt #381 Private Collection

Glen Grant 1952 - 2022 First Fill Sherry Butt #381 Private Collection

Speyside Single Malt Scotch Whisky

BottlerGordon & MacPhail
Distillery / brandGlen Grant
RangePrivate Collection - The Queen's Platinum Jubilee
CountryScotland
RegionSpeyside
Content Size0.7 liter
Alc/vol52.3%
Age70 years
Distilled1952
Bottled6-2-2022
Cask number381
Cask typeFirst Fill Sherry Butt
Number of bottles256
Flavour ProfilesMature and complex
Out of stock

Honouring the Platinum Jubilee of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II.

The Gordon & MacPhail Private Collection 1952 from Glen Grant Distillery has spent the past 70 years maturing in a first fill Sherry cask. It was bottled on 6th February, the date of the Queen’s accession, and serves as a fitting tribute, exemplifying how character, patience and wisdom can mature over decades to deliver an exceptional legacy.

Tasting notes by Gordon & MacPhail:

Nose: Notes of beeswax polish give way to ripe fig aromas, toffee and orange zest. Aged leather tempers rum and raisin.

Taste: Stewed blackberry compote, sweet clementine and milk chocolate flavours are followed by a menthol undertone.

Finish: A long finish with a touch of smoke and a hint of pepper.

Tasting notes by Serge Valentin (WhiskyFun.com): 93/100

An incredible bottle! We fondly remember G&M's 'Silver Jubilee' bottlings, especially that glorious Highland Park 1952/1977 (WF 94). I also remember that 2012's Glen Grand 1952 'Diamond Jubilee' had been a little more fragile (WF 88).

Colour: full gold.

Nose: gentler, mellower, more floral and more honeyed, more herbal, probably subtler and more elegant than the 1957. I find it rather bizarre that my poor French mind would rather think of Helen Mirren (who played the Queen in cinemas) than of the Queen herself. A whole bouquet of meadow flowers, also simple dandelions, acacia, acacia honey, beeswax, quinces, mullein flowers, golden sultanas… This is amazing, I would have thought it would be one of those stunners distilled in the early 1970s. 1972 anyone? With water: more quince and more spearmint, woodruff, wormwood, honeydew…

Mouth (neat): game set and match, I would say I like this subtler one even (a little) better than the superb 1957. You would almost believe it was made by bees (why not Buckingham's?) as I'm finding massive amounts of beeswax, honey, pollen, pinewood and then some bitterer propolis. Chewing heavier chlorophyll gum. With water: a salty miso-y touch over mead and orange sherbet, plus all of the usual honeyed cortege, and an old apple. Finish: long, still bright and fresh, almost refreshing! Lovely honeyed and mentholy aftertaste, with an expected lingering pepperiness. Very black tea.

Comments: probably the youngest-tasting 70-years-old spirit I've ever tried, including cognacs, armagnacs and calvados. To The Queen, To Helen Mirren (they will never let me enter the country again), and to the great folks at Gordon & MacPhail (I'll go through Scotland then!) SGP:651 - 93 points.

Glen Grant 1952 - 2022 First Fill Sherry Butt #381 Private Collection

Glen Grant 1952 - 2022 First Fill Sherry Butt #381 Private Collection