The Famous Grouse Ruby Cask

Classic The Famous Grouse blended Scotch married and finished in Ruby Port casks.

The story of the Gloag Family goes back tot he early 1800s when Matthew Gloag had a grocery store in Perth, Scotland — importing wine and purchasing local Whiskies to resell. Two generations later, his grand-nephew — also named Matthew — took over the family business and blended a custom Scotch he called The Grouse. His daughter designed the now famous grouse label when they renamed the Whiskey “The Famous Grouse” in 1905. The brand was sold to Highland Distillers in 1970 who devoted production and marketing resources, building it up to one of the most popular Scotch Whiskies in the world by 1980 and receiving a Royal Warrant from the Queen in 1984. Today, The Famous Grouse sells more than 2 million cases per year across a tidy range of blended Scotch spirits.

The Famous Grouse Ruby Cask makes sense when you think about it. Port Wine comes in two main styles — Tawny and Ruby. The Famous Grouse Ruby Cask is the classic blend of Whiskies found in The Famous Grouse that have been married and finished in selected Ruby Port Casks. Just like with your favorite Single Malt, finishing in Port casks tends to add silkiness to the texture and notes of dark red fruits to the palate. And that’s exactly what you have here. We taste plums and dark cherries. And like all The Famous Grouse core Whiskies, it’s bottled at 40% ABV.


Smartass corner:
A Royal Warrant is a decree that a vendor is an official supplier to the royal family. They have been issued since the 1500s by British monarchs to favored businesses in perhaps the ultimate expression of influencer marketing.