Whiskies from Glen Grant have always felt like very solid whisky staples to me. Alongside both Glenfiddich and The Glenlivet, they are always readily available at most bottle stores in my area, and usually at a very reasonable price point.
Arboralis seems to be the most recent release from Glen Grant which finally made its way to South Africa at the end of last year, and it is now widely available in other parts of the world too. Apparently (and oddly, to my mind) it has already been available for a number of years in places like Australia, as it was released in 2020 for the distillery’s 180th anniversary in select markets.
The Glen Grant distillery, which is located in Rothes in the Speyside region of Scotland, was founded in 1840 by brothers John and James Grant. The brothers actually used to be whisky smugglers and were involved in some illicit distilling before they applied for a license to distil in 1839.
Both the Grant brothers, and Major James Grant (James Grant’s son) who ended up inheriting the distillery, were keen innovators – something which had an impact on the distillery itself. In fact, Glen Grant was among the very first distilleries to introduce electric lighting. The Grant brothers also played pivotal roles in developing the railway system in the Speyside region, and so helped to tackle some of challenges faced in transporting goods, especially whisky. This transportation advancement not only benefited their own distillery, it was also a contributing factor to the growth of other distilleries in the area.
Major James Grant, often referred to as “The Major,” (and you’ll probably be familiar with Glen Grant’s entry-level offering named in his honour, “The Majors Reserve”) was supposedly the first person in the Highlands to own a car. He’s also the person who was behind the current design of the distillery’s tall, slender pot stills which now produce quite a delicate and fruity new make spirit.
In addition to their whisky, the Glen Grant distillery is also famous for its expansive and beautifully maintained gardens. Established by the Major, these gardens are home to a diverse collection of exotic fruit trees and flowering plants gathered during his travels across the globe. According to the distillery, the fragrances and flavours from all these exotic plants and fruit trees provide inspiration for many of the flavours and aromas you’ll find in their whisky today.
This connection between the garden and whisky-making is more than a romantic notion. The idea that the garden could serve as a kind of ‘nosing kit’ and offer a practical advantage for those crafting whisky is very interesting. A ‘nosing kit’ or an ‘aroma kit’ typically consists of a set of small bottles that contain concentrated aromas intended to help one develop and refine one’s sense of smell, and so enhance one’s experience of a whisky.
While these kits may seem to some like a merely excellent marketing gimmick, the idea behind them makes a lot of sense. One might not do a very good job of picking out all the aromas in a whisky if one’s sense of smell is very limited or inexperienced. For example, if one is not familiar with the smell of cedar then one may struggle to confidently differentiate this from the smell of pine. By familiarising themselves with a large range of these individual aromas, people can give themselves actual points of reference and train their olfactory senses to recognise and appreciate the diverse range of flavours and aromas that can be found in whisky.
On a recent hike through local fynbos I encountered some heather on the side of the trail. Heather is a note that I sometimes hear others cite in certain whiskies. When tasting these whiskies, I’ve often felt that I have some sense of which note people must be referring to, but I was also aware that I lacked a clear and distinct impression of the aroma of heather. I have a slightly clearer reference point now (and it’s a lot fresher than I’d thought, and, surprisingly, ever so slightly citrusy too). While I may now only have a better idea of what heather local to that particular area (and soaked with rain) smells like, the experience underscored the value of direct interaction with various aromas and flavours in enhancing one’s ability to appreciate whisky.
Much like a nosing kit, the suggestion is that Glen Grant’s gardens have served as a sensory library for the distillery’s team. For a master blender, having direct access to the rich, natural aromas of fruits, flowers, and woods can sharpen their olfactory memory, enabling them to identify and balance these notes with greater precision when selecting and combining different casks.
The Glen Grant gardens, with its large variety of trees, flowering plants, winding pathways, streams and waterfalls, is also a very popular attraction for tourists visiting the distillery. And the name “Arboralis,” derived from Latin meaning “light from within the trees,” was purportedly inspired by the dappled sunlight you can see filtering through the trees in their magnificent gardens.
Looking more closely at the whisky itself: Arboralis is a non-age-statement single malt – but, according to Dennis Malcolm (the Master Distiller when Arboralis was first released), it generally contains whisky that has been aged somewhere between five and ten years. It is matured in a combination of ex-bourbon barrels and ex-Oloroso sherry casks, and is bottled at an approachable 40% ABV (although here in South Africa you’ll find it bottled at 43% ABV). In my area, a bottle of Glent Grant’s Arboralis costs around $28 (which is roughly the same as a bottle of Glenmorangie X, or a bottle of Auchentoshan American Oak).
Glen Grant Arboralis – Review
Colour: Honey gold.
On the nose: Red apples, pears and melons. There’s a soft floral undertone, complemented by vanilla sweetness. A touch of caramel. There are also subtle traces of citrus which adds a certain freshness to the nose.
In the mouth: Quite a creamy texture. It’s initially sweet and spicy. Baked apple crumble, brimming with baking spices and notes of dried fruit – raisins and sultanas. The gentlest hint of coconut. Some soft vanilla notes linger in the mouth for some time, giving way to some slightly drying, oaky spice.
Upon nosing the empty glass I noticed a sweet and much richer woody aroma than previously detected.
Conclusion:
Overall, I enjoyed this whisky. While Arboralis may not be the most complex whisky in Glen Grant’s lineup, it is a great introduction to their range – and it’s affordable. Its approachable flavour profile makes it ideal for casual sipping, though some whisky drinkers might find themselves craving a bit more depth or complexity.
That said, Arboralis could serve as a good starting point for anyone who is interested in exploring Speyside single malts. The region is known for producing whiskies with a predominantly fruity and floral character, and Arboralis has managed to capture this character rather well.
