THE CONSISTENT QUALITY OF GLEN GRANT Glen Grant is a distiller of Single Malt Whisky since 1840. Based in the Scottish Highlands, they are a brand that is steeped in rich tradition, from its historic distillery site to the attitude of its master distiller, Dennis Malcolm. Malcolm started working for Glen Grant at just 15 yearsold, dedicating his life to making quality Single Malt Scotch Whisky. After being with the brand for the better part of 60 years, Malcolm is the expert on all things Glen Grant. Explore WHISKY: It’s a remarkable story, being born in on the grounds of Glen Grant, and to work for the business for six decades. Do you have a view on how whisky making, distilling and blending, has evolved over the past 60 years? Dennis Malcolm: Since I started work some 60 years ago the process parameters for making The Glen Grant have not changed. However, the way that the process is controlled has evolved in as much that most of the manual side of the operation has been automated, making it more interesting and far safer for the modern-day operator. I say “safer” because the cleaning of the Mash Tun/Fermenters and Stills do not require anyone to enter into these vessels to carry out this task any longer - it is all controlled by computer now. This computer automation control, in my view, has led to create an extremely consistent product, as computer programmes tend to check control parameters every second, which is impossible for the operator to do. EW: Was there a time where you contemplated / considered leaving Glen Grant or the whisky industry? DM: If so, was there something in particular that kept you there? I never had any intention to leave the industry that I loved being part of, however, like most young people, I wished for new challenges and to progress my career in the Industry industry and moved firstly to The Glenlivet as distillery manager for a period of four years. I then moved to the position of General Manager for the Group with responsibility for the operation of some 9 Distilleries /1 Gin Distillery / I Distillery Co-Product production plant and 3 farms. Following that, I returned to manage
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