Willam Grant's Scotch Whiskey

[Jono]

I have not yet tried this and was surprised to learn it is so highly regarded by Jim Murray....looking up the company website I see it is the same company that produces Gledfiddich and Balvenie..both of which go into the blend: http://www.grantswhisky.com/making_grants/taste.asp

"It is the Master Blenders’ special recipe, a blend of the finest single malt and grain Scotch Whiskies – including the company's own Glenfiddich and The Balvenie Single Malt Scotch Whiskies and its renowned Girvan Grain Scotch whisky – that creates the magical taste of Grant’s. When blended together, the malts and grains produce the deliciously complex, long, smooth taste that is known and loved throughout the world."

Sounds like a pick-me up. Any first hand experience with Grant's?
Binny's online shows it for 12.99....for Scotch, even blended, that seems very cheap.

Also, which of the Grant's is suggested...Family Reserve, Cask Reserve and Cask Selection?

[Barkley]

I had some of the bottom shelf Grant's Scotch. It was about what the price indicated. Drinkable but that's it. I have since read somewhere (Malt Maniacs?) that the Grant's we find in the U.S. has little in common with their better offerings in The U.K.
The web address for M.M. is www.maltmaniacs.org.

[whiskydude]

My only experience with Grant's was a positive one. A nice blend that had us rechecking the receipt to verify how inexpensive it was in relation to the taste. However, it was a bottle from the UK. I don't recall which of the 3 selections it was. It is on my list to purchase but I haven't done so yet. I hope not to be disappointed in the US offering.

[Jono]

Hmm...will have to look for their special bottlings.

[ThomasH]

I have 2 different bottles of Grants, the Family Reserve and the duty free 100 proof bottling. The 100 proofer has a much more smoky taste than the regular. Grants also has sherry and ale cask versions. The website says these that these are sold primarily in the UK, France, Australia and New Zealand as well as in a few other select markets. One of these markets happens to be Ontario, Canada. I plan to get a bottle of each on the next trip to Windsor if still available. Overall, Grants is a quite good Whisky!

Thomas

[Jono]

Sam's lists the Blended Scotch...bottom shelf?...$13.99.

Also, the "Sherry Cask Reserve"....$13.99.??

That price seems very odd.

[Frodo]

The regular Grant's to me is rather pedestrian, but the Ale/Sherry Cask versions are more than worth the cost in my book. A rather soft blend that is a bit too young in the standard bottling. Would like to try a 12yr version...

[Megawatt]

Grant's Family Reserve was the first Scotch that I was able to drink neat. I would not call it an oustanding blend, nowhere close to Johnnie Black or Dewar's 12, for instance, but for the price it's certainly not bad. I could see myself buying it again.

William Grant's Ale Cask is an interesting blend. Very creamy and light-tasting, with a definite malty beer flavour. The nose reminds me of root beer. Not much complexity, though.

[texascarl]

Based on this thread, I picked up a handle of Grant's Family Reserve on sale. Glad I did. Not 'spectacular' but a tasty dram and at quite a nice price. It's fine as is on ice - a bit of smoke, not much. Rather sweet. I prefer most
'middleshelf' blended Scotch doctored up a bit, and this one works well as a Rob Roy - very well, in fact. It's fine as a "Scotch & tea hot toddy" and it made for a good Rusty Nail...but it won't replace my Teacher's Highland Cream for that particular cocktail. I've been using Teacher's to make Rusty Nails since I could buy my own whusk, and 32 years of tradition is pretty hard to overcome.
That said...if you find the Family Reserve at a good price, buy it. I'd say it's a worthy addition. While I spend most of my money on bourbon, I try to keep a bottle of Teacher's, J.Walker Black, Blackbush, Powers, and now this on hand.

[Gov]

Based on this thread, I picked up a handle of Grant's Family Reserve on sale. Glad I did. Not 'spectacular' but a tasty dram and at quite a nice price. It's fine as is on ice - a bit of smoke, not much. Rather sweet. I prefer most
'middleshelf' blended Scotch doctored up a bit, and this one works well as a Rob Roy - very well, in fact. It's fine as a "Scotch & tea hot toddy" and it made for a good Rusty Nail...but it won't replace my Teacher's Highland Cream for that particular cocktail. I've been using Teacher's to make Rusty Nails since I could buy my own whusk, and 32 years of tradition is pretty hard to overcome.
That said...if you find the Family Reserve at a good price, buy it. I'd say it's a worthy addition. While I spend most of my money on bourbon, I try to keep a bottle of Teacher's, J.Walker Black, Blackbush, Powers, and now this on hand.

Did you try it neat? I bought a bottle awhile back, but have not cracked it open yet. I got it for $10!!