William Grant names whisky after column still

William Grant & Sons has named its new 100% maize whisky after the column still that made it.

The Girvan Patent Still Single Grain 25 Year Old is the first single grain whisky ever released by William Grant & Sons, a launch the group hopes will help to establish a new category of whiskies.

The Scotch, which will be followed by a 30-year-old and an age statement-free whisky next year, is available exclusively in the UK, priced £250. 

The Girvan Patent Still was built in 1963 to produce the grain element of Grant’s whisky, William Grant & Sons’ 4.5m 9-litre case brand (The Millionaires’ Club 2013).

John Ross, master distiller, said: “The Girvan Patent Still continuous distillation method takes the finest cereal grains to produce a very pure, fruity and clean-tasting grain spirit, which is lighter in aroma and character than most malt whiskies.

“It is then matured in first-fill American White Oak which adds flavour, character, colour and complexity. Time mellows the whisky, amplifies the aroma and enriches the taste. Characterised by vanilla, toffee, honey and caramelised fruit notes, the whisky delivers a taste that truly reflects William Grant & Sons’ pioneering distillation heritage.”