Famous Grouse 1 liter Blended Whisky 40%

Some bottles are bought for a particular evening. This one is bought because it needs to be there. The litre bottle is Famous Grouse in household format, the one that keeps on standing when guests turn up unannounced.

The expert description

Famous Grouse 1 Litre is a Blended Scotch Whisky bottled at 40% in a 100 cl bottle.

The blend was created in Perth in 1896 by Matthew Gloag, who named it after the red grouse. The bird became the company mark, the whisky was known locally as Gloag’s Grouse, and when the family incorporated Matthew Gloag & Son in 1905 they made the nickname official: The Famous Grouse. The brand left the family in 1970 and has been owned by William Grant & Sons since July 2025.

The style has not moved much. Malt whisky from Scottish distilleries, with Highland Park historically among those giving the blend its character, is bound together with grain whisky into a soft and rounded blend with no sharp edges. The litre bottle holds the same whisky as the standard size and speaks to those who go through it steadily.

Tasting notes

Nose

Harmonious and calm. Dried fruit and honey first, then vanilla, nuts and a touch of citrus.

Palate

Unusually soft and round with clear fruit. Ripe undertones and a lightly spiced edge that keeps it from turning dull.

Finish

Short to medium, clean and lightly sweet with malt at the close.

Specifications

Name: Famous Grouse 1 Litre
Distillery: The Famous Grouse
Region/Country: Scotland
Type: Blended Scotch Whisky
ABV: 40%
Size: 100 CL
EAN no.: 5010314101015

Flavour profile

Soft · Fruity · Honeyed · Malty · Lightly spiced

Did you know?

The red grouse on the label was not drawn by an advertising artist. The image came from Philippa Gloag, a daughter of the family, who painted the bird in the late 1800s. It has followed the bottle ever since and become one of the most recognisable marks in Scotch whisky.

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Frequently asked questions about Famous Grouse 1 Litre

Is the litre bottle different from the standard bottle?

No, the whisky is the same. The difference is volume, and the litre bottle is typically bought where the whisky has to last longer than a single evening.

What does Famous Grouse taste like?

Soft and rounded with dried fruit, honey and vanilla, a fruity middle and a short clean finish. It is built to be easy to drink rather than to challenge, and that is exactly why it has lasted more than a century.

Which malts are in the blend?

The recipe is not published in detail, but Highland Park is historically among the distilleries that have given Famous Grouse its character. The rest is grain whisky, which binds the malt together and makes the blend soft.

What is a Blended Scotch Whisky?

A marriage of malt whisky from one or more distilleries and grain whisky. The malt gives flavour and character, the grain gives softness and volume. To taste malt on its own, see our Highland Whisky.

How is it best served?

Neat, over ice or in a highball with soda. At 40% it takes both cold and dilution without falling apart, and it works as well in a cocktail as it does on its own.

Where does the name come from?

From the red grouse Matthew Gloag chose as his mark in 1896. People began asking for the famous grouse rather than for the company name, and in 1905 the family made the nickname official.

Which glass should you use?

A tumbler is perfectly fine for everyday drinking, especially with ice. To go into the detail, a tulip-shaped glass gathers the aroma better. See our whisky glasses.