Glen Grant 21 Year Old Director's Reserve 1970s

This is a very old bottle of Glen Grant from the 1970s, bottle for the Spanish market at 45.7% ABV with the resounding name Director’s Reserve. I confess, I had never before seen this one. But when my buddy Emile proposed to take a sample to try at home, I did not have to think long.

The first thing I notice on the nose is OBE – which is not unexpected – so I allow it to catch its breath. Then I get loads of raisins and blood oranges, a hint or caramel and liquorice with a herbal touch from garden herbs. Very sweet and very inviting – once the OBE has evaporated, obviously.

The arrival is pleasant, not watery at all, and still very flavorsome. Yes, you can taste that it has been sitting in the bottle for quite a while (the OBE translates into a dusty, mildy soury element), but the fruity elements do surface, albeit less powerful than hoped.

The medium long finish goes from mildly sour to somewhat bitter, but that has everything to do with the fact that the liquid has been oxidizing for so long in this half full bottle.

Admittedly, it is far from at its best. But once you get past the OBE, you can still imagine what a wonderful whisky this must have been, when it was released some 45 years ago. No wonder the directors loved having this in their cabinet. Having said that, I’m not scoring this whisky, as that would be unfair.

Find where to buy Glen Grant whisky