Grant's Family Reserve

Doesn't break the bank, and you can get a 1.75L from Costco for $40. How can you go wrong? Not something I'd drink on a special occassion, but will pass as a daily-drinker.

Tart and bitter finish. Wouldn't have again.

I spotted a handle of this blended scotch in a friend's kitchen and my interest was piqued... after all, I'm a huge fan of two of the component single malts in this blend - Balvenie and Glenfiddich. There's a minor (and amusing) controversy regarding this blend... Jim Murray awarded it a ludicrously high score in his contentious Whisky Bible, and I've read more than a couple of online blogs penned by Single Malt partisans who scoff and call this bottom-shelf swill. As always, the truth is somewhere in between. I sampled Grant's out of a tumbler (no glencairn glass at my friend's apartment, I'm afraid) and I was immediately surprised by the pleasing and aromatic nose that the scotch gives off. On the palate I also got some vanilla notes (perhaps from the Balvenie?) and also some pear and green apple (doubltess from the Glenfiddich). The component grain whiskies do their part to fill in and the finish is pretty decent and slightly sweet (never cloying), without the harsh burn that you often get from blends in this price range. As a point of comparison, this is slightly cheaper (and much better) than Johnnie Walker Red. Its light and unassuming Speyside style also makes it, in my mind, the most versatile of the bottom shelf scotches that I've sampled (Cutty Sark being a more summer drink, and Ballantine's a more winter dram). Grant's I think would be at home in either season.

This is a decent and appealing blended Scotch that offers a bit more than its competitors in the low-price range. The nose is soft and light, featuring toffee, citrus notes and hints of cinnamon. It's very much a Speyside style of a blend. Grant's Family Reserve tastes strong, sweet and spicy, and there is an apple note coming through. However, it's very young whisky, and the occasional metallic note can't be hidden. As a mixer, Grant's goes well into Coca Cola. Yet, this whisky can certainly be drunk neat, if your expectations are in accordance with its price. RATING: 2.5/5.0 stars ≙ 72 pts → SUBPAR