SMWS Whisky Sample 9.270 Glen Grant 14 Year Old Ginger Pear Puff Pastry Tarts 2022 Release (30ml, 61.3%)

SMWS Whisky Sample 9.270 Glen Grant 14 Year Old Ginger Pear Puff Pastry Tarts 2022 Release (30ml, 61.3%)

This Glen Grant is a high-octane celebration of first-fill maturation. While Glen Grant is often the "elegant gentleman" of Speyside—light, floral, and grassy—this SMWS 9.270 release strips away the formalities. At a massive 61.3% ABV, it is a concentrated essence of a summer patisserie, capturing a level of intensity rarely seen in the distillery's official lineup.

Distilled in 2007 and matured for 14 years in a 1st-fill Ex-Bourbon Barrel, this single cask was part of the Society’s 2022 release calendar. The use of a 1st-fill barrel is the engine behind this dram; it has pumped the delicate, apple-forward Glen Grant spirit full of rich vanillins, baking spices, and buttery oak. It is bottled at a staggering natural cask strength, making it one of the "punchiest" 14-year-olds in the archive.

Tasting Notes

Nose: An immediate bakery shop aroma. Warm puff pastry, vanilla bean custard, and poached pears. There is a vibrant, spicy top note of freshly grated ginger and lemon zest that cuts through the sweetness.

Palate: Thick and effervescent. Despite the high ABV, it is remarkably creamy. It tastes of honeyed pears, apricot jam, and ginger snaps. With a splash of water, it opens into white chocolate and apple turnovers.

Finish: Long, warm, and spicy. It leaves a lingering tingle of stem ginger, malted biscuits, and sweet oak tannins.

Why this bottle is special

It represents the "Power" side of Glen Grant. Most people know Glen Grant as a 40% or 43% ABV easy-drinker; this bottle is special because it shows what happens when that same spirit is allowed to retain its full, raw intensity. It is a "dessert in a glass" that manages to stay sophisticated rather than cloying, making it a perfect example of how 1st-fill bourbon wood can elevate a classic Speyside malt.