Dream drams are a highlight of London’s Whisky Show! And in 2025, we splurged by augmenting the token included in our ticket to go up to the really pricey and rare stuff. 

Our theme? His and Hers…. Or more precisely, his birth year (approximately!) and her birth year (precisely!)

HERS – 1969

Wind back the clock… Apollo 11 lands the first humans on the Moon; Woodstock draws over 400,000 people and becomes a counterculture landmark; the Stonewall riots ignite the modern LGBT rights movement… and in a small Canadian city, a girl was born.

Glen Grant 39 year (1969 / 2008) Lonach 49.6% (Duncan Taylor – Lonach Collection)

• Nose – Heavy, generous old dried fruits, sweet, old wood, a touch of tobacco
• Palate – Balanced, creamy
• Finish – Light spice, a hint of bitterness

To be fair, this wasn’t the most exceptional Glen Grant I’ve ever tried. And yet, it was undeniably a piece of history – one I was delighted to have sampled.

HIS – early 1960s

Whilst we don’t know the exact year this Glen Grant was bottled for the American market, we’re confident it was early 1960s… a time of decolonisation and independence of Africa and Asia, Kennedy established the Peace Corp, the Berlin Wall was constructed, the Vietnam war and the anti-war movement grew, femiinism gained ground… and a boy was born.

Glen Grant 25 year (~1960s) 86 proof 43% (Stuart MacNair & Co for USA)

• Nose – Beautiful, nuanced, honeyed with a gentle citrus
• Palate – Balance with loads of berries
• Finish – Long with a hint of coffee

It was exceptionally soft and sweet, a gentle treat.

Between the two, the 25 year old in particular won our hearts. And yes – I know my tasting notes are limited – that’s because we were simply too distracted by enjoying our “birth year” dream drams!

If you are curious about other dream dram experiences, check out:

• Lochside Single Blend 46 year (1964) Cask 8790 42.1% (The Whisky Exchange) 
• Brora 23 year (1981 / 2005) First Cask 1556 43% Bottle 756
• Glen Grant 12 year (1970s) 43%
• SMWS 72.3 18 year (Sep 1977 / May 1996) 49.6% (Miltonduff)
• Linkwood 31 year “Lady Macduff” (1991 – 2023) 48.2% (Macbeth) 
• BenRiach 31 year “Menteith” (1992 – 2023) 53.1% (Macbeth) 
• Miltonduff 40 year (1982) 50.4% (Adelphi) 

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