Glen Grant 2008/2022 Càrn Mòr 13 year old Single Speyside Malt Whisky 47,5%

Eleven years in bourbon barrels, then two years in casks that had held rum from Barbados. This is not a finish of a couple of months — it is long enough for the rum to settle properly into the whisky. The light Glen Grant spirit could carry it.

The expert's description

Glen Grant 2008/2022 Càrn Mòr Strictly Limited 13 Year Old is a Speyside Single Malt Scotch Whisky finished in rum casks and bottled at 47.5%.

The whisky was distilled in 2008 and spent eleven years in bourbon barrels before moving into rum casks from the West Indies Rum Distillery on Barbados for two years. Bottling took place in 2022 and produced 1,233 bottles, non-chill filtered and with no added colour.

Strictly Limited is the range in the Càrn Mòr family where the younger casks get their space, and where the strength always sits at 47.5%. Behind the range stands Morrison Scotch Whisky Distillers, with the fourth generation of the Morrison family at the helm and the Aberargie distillery in Perthshire on the books.

Tasting notes

Nose

Apple and pear first, then orange peel and cinnamon pastry. There is a toasted, biscuity cereal note behind it, and a trace of cocoa that only just shows itself.

Palate

Juicy and lightly tropical. Banana, ripe pineapple and stewed orchard fruit, with toffee and marmalade underneath. The rum shows up as a warm sweetness rather than as molasses.

Finish

Long and light. Burnt sugar, orange marmalade and biscuity malt sliding out into a drier close.

Specifications

Name: Glen Grant 2008/2022 Càrn Mòr 13 Year Old Speyside Single Malt Whisky 47.5%
Distillery: Glen Grant
Bottler: Morrison Scotch Whisky Distillers
Region/Country: Speyside, Scotland
Type: Speyside Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Age: 13 years
ABV: 47.5%
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: Bourbon barrels finished in Barbados rum casks
Non-chill filtered: Yes
Natural colour: Yes
Distilled: 2008
Bottled: 2022
Number of bottles: 1,233
Edition: Càrn Mòr Strictly Limited
EAN no.: 5060109229318

Flavour profile

Fruity · Tropical · Sweet · Spiced · Light

Did you know?

The Morrison family has been in Scotch whisky for four generations and once stood behind both Bowmore and Auchentoshan. Today they run Càrn Mòr and Old Perth, and they built the Aberargie distillery in Perthshire from the ground up.

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Frequently asked questions about Glen Grant 2008/2022 Càrn Mòr 13 Year Old

What do rum casks do to a Speyside whisky?

They lay a warm, tropical sweetness over the whisky — banana, pineapple and burnt sugar. Barbados rum is typically lighter and cleaner than heavy molasses rum, so the imprint here comes out fruity rather than syrupy.

Is two years a long finish?

Yes, it is at the long end. Most finishes run from six to eighteen months. Two years means the rum cask is not just decorating the surface but has become part of the base profile.

Why is Strictly Limited always 47.5%?

Because Càrn Mòr has locked the strength for the whole range. That makes it possible to compare bottlings from very different distilleries without the alcohol clouding the picture. You will find more releases in our Scotch Whisky selection.

What does Glen Grant normally taste like?

Bright, dry and appley. The distillery runs tall pot stills fitted with purifiers that hold the heavier elements back, so the spirit comes out light and clean. That is why the rum casks can occupy so much room here without overloading the whisky.

Is it too sweet for someone who dislikes sherried whisky?

Probably not. The sweetness here is fruity and bright, not the dark raisin and chocolate sweetness you meet in sherry-matured whisky. If sherry bombs are not your thing, this is a different direction entirely.

Who are Morrison Scotch Whisky Distillers?

A family-run Scotch whisky house that bottles under the Càrn Mòr and Old Perth names and produces its own spirit at Aberargie in Perthshire. The Morrison family has been in the trade for four generations.

Does it pair with anything in particular?

Try it after a meal alongside something caramelised — burnt cream, toasted nuts or dark chocolate with sea salt. The tropical fruit and burnt sugar meet the dessert well.