The Famous Grouse Scotch Whiskey Review

By Richard Thomas

Rating: C+

Like so many other blended scotches, the Famous Grouse starts with a 19th Century Scottish grocer, in this case one Matthew Gloag of Perth. Like many Scottish grocers, Gloag started a family business that included making blended scotch whiskeys, which grew into the Grouse Blend under Matthew’s namesake and grandson in 1896. This was later renamed to The Famous Grouse.

Today, The Famous Grouse is a scotch line that sits on the shelf right up there with Grant’s,  Johnnie Walker, and Ballatine’s. Billing itself as “Scotland’s best-selling whisky for 30 years,” entry-level Famous Grouse scotch is the number one scotch Scandinavia, coming in first in Denmark, Norway and Sweden, and in the top three blended scotches in Finland. As I can attest to from personal experience, the scotch is also damn near universal in Portugal as well. In the UK, you apparently need to live in Plato’s cave in order to escape the company’s Christmas advertising, and it is noted for its sponsorship of rugby there.

The Scotch
Entry-level Famous Grouse, with the characteristic little red bird on the label, is a blend that includes scotch from The Macallan and Highland Park, among others. The whiskey is married and matured in old sherry casks for up to six months, and bottled at 40% alcohol. The Famous Grouse has no aging statement on the label. On the plus side, the bottle has a metal screw cap, but on the minus side it usually also has an aerator.

Once in the glass, the scotch has a pleasantly clear, light orange-amber color. The scent of The Famous Grouse carries its woody, sherry-cask maturation well, mixed with a sea spray-like crispness and citrus hints. On the palate, the oak is at the forefront of the flavor, but balanced with a spicy graininess and a touch of spice and peat smoke. The finish continues on the spicy and smokey notes, running out into a middling warmth.

Some whiskey fans like adding a splash of water to their dram, and in this instance I found that the water unlocked the sweeter side of the scotch. So, if you like your scotch to have a more floral, citrusy flavor and you have Famous Grouse on hand, add a little water to it.

The Price
I usually see The Famous Grouse on the European shelves for between 11 and 13€. In the United States, the scotch typically runs for about $20.

Awards
The Famous Grouse received a gold medal at the 2009 Scotch Whisky Masters, and silvers at the 2006 and 2008 San Francisco World Spirits Competition. At the 2007 International Wine and Spirits Competition, the Famous Grouse also carried a silver.

13 comments

  1. It’s a good brand. I’m not generally a scotch drinker but they were having a tasting night at the corner liquor store. Very smooth with a nice flavor.

  2. In places that rllaey know their scotch, they will also offer you little water on the side of your neat drink, so you can dilute it a wee bit (brings out some of the hidden aromatics). A good scotch place would never insult you by offering such a fine beverage on the rocks. You can ask, but they will give you a well deserved eyebrow. My mantra is that if it tastes so horrible that you need to super cool and massively dilute it to handle it don’t drink it! If you are too weak to handle the drink straight up don’t drink it!

    • I wholeheartedly agree, whisky should be served at least room temperature, If not body temperature and water should (If required) be the same and no more than two teaspoons per half measure, water for whisky served in Scottish bars normally sit in small jugs on the bar for this very reason.

  3. A very good scotch for the price.

  4. Wonderful scotch!!! Definitely a favorite by far in price and quality!

  5. This has become my favorite go to scotch, a delicious well balanced flavor that doesn’t overpower the palate.The best part is that it is also one of the most affordable drinks out there. You can’t go wrong with this pick.

  6. A fantastic breakfast Scotch 😉

  7. It’s a disaster blend, coming nowhere near to as cheap stuff as JW Red Label even.

  8. Two teaspoons of water per 1/4 gil and this whisky comes alive with a sweet toasted oat/ butterscotch after taste, would be an ideal base spirit for a whisky sloe winter concoction, I think it would marry beautifully, can you guess what I’l be doing this year!! 😄

  9. Got my MSc in Leeds, I lived in UK for 2+ years, driving my old E-Type on M62 and M1. Now regularly buying Grouse, 1.75 Litre bottles for $30 in USA. Two Q’s for experts: HOW LONG this scotch waits in OAK CASKS before bottled? How much % you add water (I do 10%, never cold or icy)

    • They’ve never said much about the average age or typical age range used in the basic Famous Grouse. There are some parameters, though. First, the minimum age is three years, and low end blends are 3 to 6 years. Famous Grouse isn’t low end, so my guess is to draw the floor for the age at 6 years and assume it is mostly older than that. The upper parameter is the existence of the 12 year old Famous Grouse, so I doubt any part of the basic blend is as old as that.

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