The Famous Grouse
The Scottish blend with the red grouse, the best-selling whisky in Scotland itself for decades. Everything about the taste, the types, how to drink it and the glass that goes with it.
The whisky Scots drink themselves
The Famous Grouse was created in 1896 by Matthew Gloag, a wine and whisky merchant in Perth, as 'The Grouse Brand'. The red grouse on the label, drawn by his daughter, refers to the game bird of the Scottish Highlands. Because customers kept asking for 'the famous grouse', that became the official name in 1905. Since 1980, it has been the best-selling whisky in Scotland itself, and the brand belongs to Edrington, also the owner of The Macallan and Highland Park.
Those two single malts also form the heart of the blend, complemented by other malts and grain whiskies. The result is a smooth, balanced blend with honey, orange and a hint of oak: easy to enjoy neat, good on the rocks and ideal in mixed drinks. Alongside the classic 'Finest', there are the smoky Smoky Black, the Sherry Cask Finish and the blended malt Naked Malt, formerly known as The Naked Grouse.
In brief
What types of The Famous Grouse are there?
The Famous Grouse Finest
The classic since 1896: smooth and balanced, with honey, orange and a hint of oak. Enjoy it neat, on the rocks or in a mixed drink.
Smoky Black
The blend with a generous portion of peated malt from the Highlands. Smoky, warming and slightly sweet, without the heaviness of an Islay.
Sherry Cask Finish
Finished in European oak sherry casks. Richer and sweeter than the Finest, with dark chocolate, maple syrup and toasted nuts.
Naked Malt
Formerly The Naked Grouse: a blend made only from single malts, finished for six months in first-fill sherry casks. Raisins, apple and fudge.
The Famous Grouse 1 liter
The liter bottle for the home bar. More economical per glass if you often serve whisky cola or ginger ale.
The Famous Grouse 4.5 liter
The giant bottle for the pub, clubhouse or a large party. With a pourer pump, it is an eye-catching feature on the bar.
For mixing, Finest is more than sufficient; neat, Smoky Black and Naked Malt are the most enjoyable.
Soft, round and lightly honeyed
Honey & orange
Soft honey, orange peel and a lightly floral note, with some oak and a hint of sherry in the background.
Smooth and balanced
Round and smooth, with caramel, dried fruit and a light spiciness. Hardly any harshness.
Medium-long and warm
A warm, slightly sweet finish of oak and honey. Smoky Black adds smoke to the profile.
Flavor profile of The Famous Grouse Finest. Smoky Black scores 4/5 for smokiness, while Sherry Cask Finish is sweeter and richer.
Three ways to drink The Famous Grouse
Finest is an all-rounder: neat, on the rocks or mixed. The brand itself recommends it with ginger ale.
On the rocks
50 ml Famous Grouse over a few ice cubes in a tumbler. Simple and refreshing; the ice makes the blend even smoother.
Glass: tumbler →Famous Grouse with ginger ale
50 ml Famous Grouse with 150 ml ginger ale in a highball glass filled with ice, garnished with a lime wedge. Sweet, spicy and the brand's own favorite mix. Also delicious with cola.
Glass: highball glass →Neat, the Smoky Black
30 ml Smoky Black or Naked Malt in a tulip-shaped tasting glass, at room temperature. Let it breathe for a moment and smell the smoke or sherry. This is how you taste what a blend can do.
Glass: tasting glass →The best cocktails with The Famous Grouse
Whiskey Sour
Whisky, lemon, sugar and egg white. Fresh and rounded with a soft blend like Grouse.
Penicillin
Blended Scotch, honey-ginger syrup and lemon, topped with a layer of smoky whisky. Ready in one go with Smoky Black.
Rusty Nail
Scotch and Drambuie over ice. Sweet, warm and with two Scots in one glass.
Whisky cocktails
All whisky cocktails in one place, from Old Fashioned to Hot Toddy.The right glass for The Famous Grouse
A sturdy tumbler for whisky on the rocks, a long drink glass for mixing with ginger ale or cola, and a tasting glass for Smoky Black and Naked Malt. These are the glasses we recommend ourselves.
Everything you still wanted to know about The Famous Grouse
Can't find your question? Check out our cocktail recipes or get in touch.
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