Glen Grant

GLEN GRANT DISTILLERY

Through the woods, at the end of a short, scenic path in the idyllic Speyside town of Rothes you’ll find the Glen Grant distillery.

Founded by the Grant brothers in 1840, the distillery is nowadays one of the leading producers of single malt in the world, with an annual capacity of close to 6.2 million litres of pure alcohol.

Former illegal distillers and smugglers, the brothers were strategic in their choice of site for the distillery, choosing a spot that is close to the goods port of Garmouth, the pristine waters of the River Spey and bountiful fields of barley. Glen Grant is proud of this heritage; evident as it is the only Scotch whisky whose distillery is still named after its original owners. It is unique in another way also, as it is the only distillery in Speyside where every drop is bottled on-site.

Today, the distillery attracts around 16,000 visitors each year and offers both guided tours and private tastings with the distillery staff. Guests can savour a dram in the refurbished, modern coachman’s cottage, or enjoy a coffee and a homemade cake at the Coffee Shop, open April to October. The inexpensive admission fee includes both a guided tour of the distillery and entry into the famous Victorian Gardens. When James Grant established the distillery alongside his brother, he wanted to highlight the natural beauty of the area by building a stunning Victorian style garden in the grounds. Since fully restored, guests can now stroll along the winding path through the garden, past blooming flowerbeds, verdant lawns and a flowing waterfall and see the heather thatched dram pavilion or the little cave where Major Grant, James’ son and successor, kept his own private Glen Grant barrel.

ADDRESS: Elgin Road, Rothes, Banffshire AB38 7BS T: +44 (0) 1340 832118 W: www.glengrant.com/gb/en/distillery/visitor-centre OPENING HOURS: Monday-Saturday: 9:30am-5pm (April-October) 9:30am-4:30pm (November-March)