🥃 The Famous Grouse
Scottish blended whisky from Perth; created by the Gloag family in the late 19th century; 40% ABV; owned by William Grant & Sons since 2024-2025.
The Famous Grouse is a Scottish blended whisky created by the Gloag family in Perth in the late 19th century. The emblem is a red grouse, and the strength of the basic version is 40% ABV. The brand was previously owned by Edrington; in 2024 William Grant & Sons announced its purchase, and according to press reports the deal was completed in 2025.
History. The business began with John Brown's grocery shop in Perth in 1800 and later passed to the Gloag family. According to Difford's Guide, a blend for visitors to the Highlands was named Grouse Brand in 1896, and on 12 August 1905 it was renamed The Famous Grouse. The bird on the label was painted by Philippa, the daughter of Matthew Gloag III. Highland Distillers bought the company in 1970, and Edrington followed in the late 1990s; sources differ on the year, so we do not give it. On 24 September 2024 William Grant & Sons announced the purchase of the brand and Naked Malt.
How it is made. According to Difford's Guide, the blend includes malt whiskies, among them Macallan and Highland Park, and grain whisky; the strength is 40% ABV. There are also Smoky Black, with peated whiskies from Islay and Glenturret, Mellow Gold, and Snow Grouse, a grain whisky blend from 2008. Naked Grouse is now sold as a separate blended malt whisky.
Why this matters to you. This is a blend, not a single malt: the word "blended" means a mix of malt and grain whiskies. The owner changed recently, so older descriptions may still show Edrington. The WHO reminds us: there is no safe level of alcohol consumption.
Facts
| Year founded | 1896/1897 (Grouse Brand), Gloag family, Perth; The Famous Grouse since 12 August 1905 |
|---|---|
| Legal basis | Scotch Whisky Regulations 2009 (SI 2009/2890) (Blended Scotch Whisky) |
| EU category | 2 - whisky (whisky/whiskey) |
| Raw material | single malt and grain whiskies; the malts include Macallan, Highland Park, Glenturret |
| Cask type | oak casks; the exact cask composition for the basic version is not specified in our sources |
| Minimum maturation | from 3 years in oak by law; no age statement |
| Alcohol (% vol.) | 40% ABV |
What it includes
How it connects to Spirits
🥃 The Famous Grouse → kind of → 🥃 Whisky → kind of → 🥃 Spirits
Links
- Packed in
- 🍷 Oak barrel
- Made from
- 🥃 Single Malt Scotch Whisky, 🥃 Barley and malt in whisky
- What it contains
- 🧪 Water, 🍷 Ethanol
- What it affects
- 🍷 Alcohol and health, 🍷 Drunk driving
- Traditions
- 🧑🤝🧑 British
- Part of
- 🥃 Whisky, 🥃 Blended Scotch Whisky, 🥃 Scotch Whisky
- Related to
- 🌍 Western Europe
- Similar and different
- 🥃 Johnnie Walker, 🥃 Chivas Regal, 🥃 Cutty Sark, 🥃 Cutty Sark, 🥃 Vat 69, 🥃 Vat 69, 🥃 Ballantine's, 🥃 Ballantine's, 🥃 The Balvenie, 🥃 The Balvenie
Frequently asked questions
Is it true that The Famous Grouse still belongs to Edrington?
No. Edrington sold the brand to William Grant & Sons: the deal was announced on 24 September 2024 and, according to press reports, completed in 2025.
Who painted the bird on the label?
Philippa, the daughter of Matthew Gloag III.
What is Smoky Black?
A version made with peated whiskies from Islay and Glenturret, so it is smokier than the basic one.
What is the strength of The Famous Grouse?
40% ABV for the basic version.
When was the brand renamed?
On 12 August 1905: from Grouse Brand to The Famous Grouse.
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.
- 🥃 Single Malt Scotch Whisky — Scotch from a single distillery: only malted barley, water and copper pot stills; at least 3 years in oak, 40% vol. or more.
- 🧪 Water — ~87% of milk.
Similar
🥃 Cutty Sark · 🥃 Vat 69 · 🥃 Black & White · 🥃 Loch Lomond Distillery · 🥃 100 Pipers · 🥃 Benrinnes
⚠️ 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
- 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)
- Difford's Guide: The Famous Grouse Blended Scotch Whisky (Gloag, 1905 rename, 40 %, Edrington, Scotland No.1)
- Scotchwhisky.com (Whiskypedia): The Famous Grouse (Gloag family, Highland Distillers 1970, Edrington, range)
- BeverageDaily: New owner for The Famous Grouse Scotch (24.09.2024, William Grant & Sons buys from Edrington)
- WHO/Europe: No level of alcohol consumption is safe for our health (04.01.2023)