I Tried The Glen Grant's $50,000 New Scotch. Here's My Honest Review

A proper pour of well-aged Scotch is more than just a drink. It’s a work of art. In the case of The Glen Grant’s latest release, a spectacularly rare, 65-year-old single malt, it’s impossible to pinpoint where the creative spark ends and the actual liquid begins. So, it’s only natural that the iconic Speyside producer would opt to unveil its $50,000 showstopper at Art Basel Hong Kong—one of the world’s largest international art fairs.

The grand reveal takes place later this month, but I scored an advanced taste of the expression and have some vital details to share. Is it a transformative bottle for your home bar, or a stunning exhibit for your home gallery? 

The Glen Grant 65 spent the duration of its life maturing in a single French oak sherry butt. Yet it wouldn’t be entirely accurate to characterize the liquid as a sherry bomb. Yes, it holds the deep mahogany hues typical to that style and is generous in its aromas of molasses and plump raisins. But upon the palate, it’s balanced, refined, and subtle. It unfolds in layers: first with marmalade-smothered brioche, then with darker cherry fruit, and finally with whispers of cedar smoke in a gentle but firm finish.

Want the latest whiskey news, deals, and reviews? Sign up for the Whiskey Wednesday newsletter.

The dram is as delicate as a flowering orchid—which is fitting, since it’s the inaugural release in The Glen Grant’s Splendours Collection, which is a thematic reference to the 27-acre Garden of Splendours maintained on the distillery since the 1880s. 

From a production standpoint, the subtleties make sense. The 111-proof spirit was aged at the facility’s oldest stone dunnage warehouse, where temperatures are cool and damp and fluctuate minimally throughout the ages. In such conditions, interaction between whisky and wood is slow and steady.

The angel’s share persists nonetheless. The whisky was originally distilled in 1958. By the time that newly-minted master distiller Greig Stables was ready to draw from the cask, just enough whisky remained to fill 151 bottles. Each of them, of course, had to be something spectacular in its own right. To achieve this end, The Glen Grant enlisted the singularly qualified aid of John Galvin at Glasstorm. The award-winning designer imagined an ovular pendant for the single malt. It is capped by sharp metallic points on either end, but maintains a crystal globule at its core to proudly flaunt its liquid contents.

The handcrafted decanter is balanced upright within a round wooden base, meant to evoke a Möbius strip, a nod to the timelessness of nature. But the symbolism doesn’t stop there. The wood is crafted from a species that thrives in the Garden of Splendours. Metallic surfaces of the bottle are engraved with Himalayan blue poppies, which were originally planted at the distillery in 1886 by second generation master distiller and passionate botanist James “The Major” Grant.

Stark contrast between wood, metal, and glass firmly confirms the notion that this presentation wouldn’t be out of place in an art gallery. Which is exactly where it will live next week in Hong Kong. Though I’d hardly consider myself an art critic, I’m quite confident in declaring that The Glen Grant 65 will be the most delicious exhibit on display during that time. 

Related: How to Drink Scotch Whisky: Experts Share Their Best Tips