2025 Whisky Show – Glen Grant “Birth Year” Dream Drams

Posted on June 20, 2026 by Carissa Hickling

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 incredible change, decolonisation and independence in Africa and Asia, Kennedy established the Peace Corp, the Berlin Wall was constructed, the Vietnam war and the anti-war movement grew, feminism 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!

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Duncan Taylor – The Octave: Glentauchers 17 year 54.3%

Posted on April 18, 2026 by Carissa Hickling

The concept behind Duncan Taylor’s The Octave collection is simple. Take something that is already good, transfer it into smaller Octave casks, mature it for more time. The aim? Amp up the aromas and flavours through a higher whisky to wood contact, triggering a bolder, more intense version.

So what did we find with this Glentaucheers?

Glentauchers 17 Year Old (8 May 2008 / 25 Aug 2025) Sherry cask 8546097 54.3% (Duncan Taylor – The Octave) ~90 GBP

Nose – How delightful! Cake, salty caramel, lots of rich fruity base notes, heavy mocha, ripe dark cherries, chocolate, and cream like a black forest cake, more coffee, toffee – delicious!
Palate – Very full, loads going on. There is an intensity with dark fruits, chocolate, old wood, malty, luscious fruits, and over-ripe nectarines. The dusting of pepper just adds another element – like a rich chilli chocolate ice cream
Finish – A big finish, treacle sweet
Water – Wow! Intense exotic fruits, durian to peach, then warmed pineapple

What a delight! We absolutely adored this expression. The extra “oomph!” from the Octave cask finish added complexity in a big, bold, beautiful way. Whilst we have no idea what it was like before the re-casking, here is what the folks at Duncan Taylor have to say :

Before Octivation

Apple strudel, creamy, raisins, custard creams, gooseberries.

After Octivation

Sherry, chocolate cake, spiced red fruits, clotted cream, white pepper.

What a complete treat! Curious about other Glentauchers experiences? Check out:

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Duncan Taylor’s Octave – Craigellachie 17 year (20025) 54%

Posted on October 19, 2025 by Carissa Hickling

Technically, my whisky hosting for the Bombay Malt & Cigar evening in October 2025 was only a trio. And a mighty fine trio it was – starting with a lovely Lowland Glenkinchie; followed by a wonderfully balanced Speyside with a simply delicious Aultmore; closing with a beautiful Balblair from the Highlands.

However, we came back from the Whisky Show with a wee bonus dram that simply could not be missed!

Craigellachie 17 year (Jun 2008 / 25 Aug 2025) Madeira Wine Cask No 7547103 54% (Duncan Taylor – Octave)

Nose – Gorgeous! Dark, steeped fruit, Christmas pudding, sweet spices, big, bold, and beautiful
Palate – The Madeira element was unmistakable – in a wonderful way. Sweet and full- flavoured, it is quite powerful at full strength
Finish – Sweet, long, and chewy
Water – An absolute must! It opens the whisky up in the most marvelous way, loads of creamy aromas join the luscious dark fruits

This was a stunner – made even better with a generous splash of water. We found it quite autumnal – mature, full, and fabulous. A worthy dram to definitively close our whisky tasting and accompany the next section of the evening – the cigars.