Brand
Famous Grouse
Famous Grouse is a well-known Scottish brand of blended Scotch whisky, recognizable by the red grouse logo and offering a range that includes core bottlings and expressions finished in various casks (Smoky Black, Ruby Cask, Bourbon Cask, Naked Malt).
- Perth / Crieff · Perthshire · Scotland, United Kingdom
- Since 1896
- 5 products
The story
The brand was born from the company Matthew Gloag & Son in Perth, Scotland; the first registration of the blend dates to the late 19th century (The Famous Grouse was introduced around 1896–1897). During the 20th century the brand grew nationally and internationally; in 1970 ownership passed to Highland Distillers and, in 1999, to the Edrington group. It received a Royal Warrant in 1984. In September 2024 Edrington announced an agreement to sell the brand to William Grant & Sons; the transaction received regulatory approval in 2025.
Production philosophy
Pursue consistency and recognizability of the blend, prioritizing mixability and conviviality. The brand has pursued premiumisation of the range by offering versions with cask influences and smoky profiles while maintaining an easily recognizable core blend.
Territory
Origin Scotland (Perth / Perthshire). Brand with global commercial presence, strong performance in the United Kingdom and expansion into European and international markets.
Awards and recognition
Royal Warrant (1984). The Edrington report mentions awards for some portfolio expressions (for example Naked Malt received Double Gold at the World Spirits Competition, cited in the report).
Production method
Produced as a blended Scotch: the spirit is obtained by assembling single malts and grain whiskies from different distilleries and allowing the blends to 'marry' before bottling. Some expressions include finishes or aging in specific casks (ex-bourbon, port/ruby, sherry). Sources mention the use of single malts from the Edrington portfolio as components of the blend.
Ageing
Maturation in oak casks; the individual components are aged in cask according to Scotch Whisky regulations and the blends are left to 'marry' before bottling (sources cite a 'marrying' period of up to about six months at 46% ABV for the marrying process).
Characteristics
- Type
- Brand
- City
- Perth / Crieff
- Categories
- whisky
- blended scotch
- Scottish whisky brand
- blended malt producer
- Raw materials
- malted barley
- other grains used for grain whiskies
- Casks and ageing vessels
- ex-bourbon casks
- port / 'ruby' finish casks
- sherry casks
- American oak
- Representative products
- Whisky Famous Grouse 1,5lt
- Whisky Famous Grouse 2lt
- Whisky Famous Grouse 4,5lt
- Whisky Famous Grouse 70cl
- Whisky Famous Grouse Smoky Black Cl.70
- The Famous Grouse Blended Scotch Whisky 1lt
- Whisky Bourbon Cask 70cl - The Famous Grouse
- Whisky Ruby Cask 70cl - The Famous Grouse
- Naked Malt (Naked Grouse / Naked Malt)
- The Famous Grouse Sherry Cask Finish
What makes it distinctive
- Historic Scottish brand founded by the Gloag family (origin in Perth, late 19th century).
- Historically part of Highland Distillers; acquired by Edrington in 1999.
- Range expanded with premium expressions and cask finishes (Smoky Black, Ruby Cask, Bourbon Cask, Sherry Cask Finish, Naked Malt).
- Edrington announced the sale of the brand to William Grant & Sons (announcement: 23 September 2024) with subsequent regulatory approval.
- Received a Royal Warrant in 1984.