Few in the worldwide spirits industry share the whisky-making lineage of Dennis Malcolm, master distiller at The Glen Grant. In 2021, on the 181st anniversary of the distillery, Malcolm celebrates his 60th year in the industry, five decades of which have been spent at The Glen Grant, and his tenure as one of Scotland’s longest-serving distillers. To mark this important milestone, The Glen Grant will release a rare, limited-edition expression: The Dennis Malcolm Anniversary Edition Aged 60 Years. It is the oldest distillery bottling ever released by The Glen Grant and the first of its kind in the brand’s history.
What’s more, to celebrate this important milestone Whisky Magazine has partnered with The Glen Grant to release a full-length documentary film that tells the story of Malcolm’s life, his unique influence on Speyside, and the release of this very special anniversary edition. The first full-length film to be produced entirely by the team at Whisky Magazine, it will be available to view in full, free of charge, at whiskymag.com from October.
This is not the first time Malcolm’s achievements have been honoured. His careful craftsmanship and attention to detail distilling and creating The Glen Grant’s whiskies has received worldwide acclaim on numerous occasions. In 2013, Malcolm welcomed Prince Charles to the distillery to officially open a new bottling plant, and he was inducted into the Whisky Magazine Hall of Fame in 2014. In 2015, he received the first-ever Spirit of Speyside award for his achievements in the industry. In 2016, he was recognised for his service by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, when he was named as an Officer of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (OBE) for his contributions and years of service to the business and community of Speyside.
Dennis is also a leading figure in The Glen Grant’s historical home of Rothes, Scotland. An appointed Justice of Peace, session clerk and local convener at his church and, until recently, a member of the local school board, Malcolm can often be found working in the community or on-site at the distillery.
Of course, Malcolm’s respected position in the industry did not come about overnight. He was born in the Speyside village of Rothes at The Glen Grant Distillery in 1946, where both his father and grandfather worked, before starting his career in 1961, as an apprentice in the distillery’s cooperage at age 15. He rose through the ranks and, after reaching assistant distillery manager in 1971, was promoted to distillery manager of The Glenlivet in 1979. During the 1980s and 90s, while once more based at The Glen Grant, Chivas Brothers appointed Dennis as production manager of all nine of its malt distilleries, a gin distillery, and three farms. In the late 90s, Malcolm spent several years at Balmenach Distillery before returning ‘home’ to The Glen Grant, now under the ownership of the Campari Group, which acquired the distillery in 2006. In his current role as master distiller, Dennis directs the consistent quality of The Glen Grant’s whisky, with uncommon passion and unrivalled knowledge of the industry.
Designed by the world-renowned Glencairn Crystal Studio, each of the 360 decanters is marked with a unique number and has been crafted from hand-blown crystal glass. Based on the design of the distillery’s unique pot stills, the decanter is nestled in an elegant presentation case crafted from sustainably sourced walnut, each engraved with the master distiller’s signature, and accompanied by a certificate of authenticity signed personally by Dennis Malcolm.
To be released in October 2021, The Glen Grant Dennis Malcolm 60th Anniversary Edition Aged 60 Years has been bottled at 52.8% ABV, without chill filtering, from a single ex-oloroso sherry cask (number #5040) that was filled on 24 October 1960. Just 360 decanters of the liquid will be made available worldwide, priced at €25,000.
The Glen Grant Dennis Malcolm 60th Anniversary Edition Aged 60 Years
What’s more, to celebrate this important milestone Whisky Magazine has partnered with The Glen Grant to release a full-length documentary film that tells the story of Malcolm’s life, his unique influence on Speyside, and the release of this very special anniversary edition. The first full-length film to be produced entirely by the team at Whisky Magazine, it will be available to view in full, free of charge, at whiskymag.com from October.
Dennis Malcolm, master distiller at The Glen Grant
This is not the first time Malcolm’s achievements have been honoured. His careful craftsmanship and attention to detail distilling and creating The Glen Grant’s whiskies has received worldwide acclaim on numerous occasions. In 2013, Malcolm welcomed Prince Charles to the distillery to officially open a new bottling plant, and he was inducted into the Whisky Magazine Hall of Fame in 2014. In 2015, he received the first-ever Spirit of Speyside award for his achievements in the industry. In 2016, he was recognised for his service by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, when he was named as an Officer of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (OBE) for his contributions and years of service to the business and community of Speyside.
Dennis is also a leading figure in The Glen Grant’s historical home of Rothes, Scotland. An appointed Justice of Peace, session clerk and local convener at his church and, until recently, a member of the local school board, Malcolm can often be found working in the community or on-site at the distillery.
Traditional dunnage warehouses at The Glen Grant Distillery.
Of course, Malcolm’s respected position in the industry did not come about overnight. He was born in the Speyside village of Rothes at The Glen Grant Distillery in 1946, where both his father and grandfather worked, before starting his career in 1961, as an apprentice in the distillery’s cooperage at age 15. He rose through the ranks and, after reaching assistant distillery manager in 1971, was promoted to distillery manager of The Glenlivet in 1979. During the 1980s and 90s, while once more based at The Glen Grant, Chivas Brothers appointed Dennis as production manager of all nine of its malt distilleries, a gin distillery, and three farms. In the late 90s, Malcolm spent several years at Balmenach Distillery before returning ‘home’ to The Glen Grant, now under the ownership of the Campari Group, which acquired the distillery in 2006. In his current role as master distiller, Dennis directs the consistent quality of The Glen Grant’s whisky, with uncommon passion and unrivalled knowledge of the industry.
The still room at The Glen Grant
Designed by the world-renowned Glencairn Crystal Studio, each of the 360 decanters is marked with a unique number and has been crafted from hand-blown crystal glass. Based on the design of the distillery’s unique pot stills, the decanter is nestled in an elegant presentation case crafted from sustainably sourced walnut, each engraved with the master distiller’s signature, and accompanied by a certificate of authenticity signed personally by Dennis Malcolm.
The Glen Grant Distillery
To be released in October 2021, The Glen Grant Dennis Malcolm 60th Anniversary Edition Aged 60 Years has been bottled at 52.8% ABV, without chill filtering, from a single ex-oloroso sherry cask (number #5040) that was filled on 24 October 1960. Just 360 decanters of the liquid will be made available worldwide, priced at €25,000.
