🥃 The Famous Grouse Blended Scotch Whisky
The base blended scotch from The Famous Grouse, 40% ABV, no age statement; malt whiskies including The Macallan and Highland Park, with grain whiskies.
The Famous Grouse Blended Scotch Whisky is the base expression of The Famous Grouse: a blended Scotch whisky bottled at 40% ABV with no age statement. According to Difford's Guide, the blend is built on malt whiskies, including The Macallan and Highland Park, mixed with grain whiskies.
The blend is assembled in Glasgow. The malt and grain whiskies are combined and matured together in oak casks for about six months; the blend is collected at 46% ABV and reduced to 40% before bottling. According to the producer, this lower-strength marrying allows the whisky to avoid heavy chill filtration. The exact recipe is not published. According to TasteScot's review, the malt core matures in sherry casks, and the taste is soft, with toffee, orange zest and dried fruit.
Why this matters to you. This is the house reference of the brand: it is a convenient point of comparison with Smoky Black, which has a smoky profile, and Sherry Cask Finish, which has extra maturation in sherry casks. Check the name and strength on the label. The WHO reminds us that there is no safe level of alcohol consumption.
Facts
| Legal basis | Scotch Whisky Regulations 2009 (SI 2009/2890): oak casks up to 700 l, at least 3 years, at least 40% ABV |
|---|---|
| Raw material | malt and grain whiskies (blend) |
| Cask type | oak casks; according to TasteScot, the malt core comes from sherry casks |
| Minimum maturation | no age statement; about 6 more months in oak after blending |
| Alcohol (% vol.) | 40% ABV (collected at 46% ABV) |
How it connects to Spirits
🥃 The Famous Grouse Blended Scotch Whisky → packed in → 🍷 Oak barrel ← packed in ← 🥃 Spirits
Links
- Packed in
- 🍷 Oak barrel, 🍷 Sherry
- Made from
- 🥃 Barley and malt in whisky
- What it contains
- 🍷 Ethanol
- What it affects
- 🍷 Alcohol and health, 🍷 Drunk driving
- Part of
- 🥃 The Famous Grouse, 🥃 Blended Scotch Whisky, 🥃 Scotch Whisky
- Similar and different
- 🥃 The Macallan, 🥃 Johnnie Walker Red Label, 🥃 The Famous Grouse Smoky Black, 🥃 The Famous Grouse Smoky Black, 🥃 The Famous Grouse Sherry Cask Finish, 🥃 The Famous Grouse Sherry Cask Finish
Frequently asked questions
Is The Famous Grouse a single malt?
No. It is a blend of malt and grain whiskies; a single malt comes from one distillery and is made only from malted barley.
What is the strength of the base Famous Grouse?
40% ABV (80 proof), according to Difford's Guide; the blend is collected at 46% ABV and then reduced.
Which malt whiskies are in the blend?
According to Difford's Guide, the core is The Macallan and Highland Park; the producer does not disclose the exact recipe.
What to read next
- 🍷 Alcohol and health — Alcohol in any drink is harmful in large amounts, and the risks grow with the quantity.
- 🍷 Ethanol — The alcohol formed during fermentation that makes you drunk.
- 🍷 Oak barrel — A wooden barrel of oak staves in which wine matures and breathes.
- 🥃 Johnnie Walker Red Label — Base line of Johnnie Walker: a blended Scotch at 40% ABV with no age statement, up to 35 whiskies in the blend; according to the brand, the most popular in its range.
- 🍷 Drunk driving — Never drive after drinking wine: alcohol slows your reactions.
Similar
🥃 The Famous Grouse Sherry Cask Finish · 🥃 The Famous Grouse Smoky Black · 🥃 Cutty Sark Original · 🥃 Cutty Sark Prohibition · 🥃 Cutty Sark 12 Year Old · 🥃 Dewar's 15 Year Old
⚠️ Spirit drinks contain alcohol and are for adults only. Alcohol harms health. Do not drink during pregnancy or before driving; check the label for ingredients and possible allergens.
Sources
- Difford's Guide: The Famous Grouse Blended Scotch Whisky (40 %; Macallan and Highland Park malts with grain whiskies; married 6 months at 46 %; Glasgow)
- TasteScot: The Famous Grouse, an honest guide to Scotland's favourite blend (standard bottling, Smoky Black, Sherry Cask Finish; blend of malt and grain, sherry-cask malt heart)
- The Scotch Whisky Regulations 2009 (SI 2009/2890), reg. 3: definition and categories of Scotch Whisky (Scotland, oak up to 700 l, min. 3 years, min. 40 % ABV)
- WHO/Europe: No level of alcohol consumption is safe for our health (04.01.2023)