A round transparent glass bottle with amber-golden liquid and a picture of a shepherd on a background of high mountains and wooden barrels is familiar even to those who are not an active consumer of strong alcoholic drinks. The most famous Scottish whiskey Scottish Collie is produced by William Grant & Sons. The drink is prepared using the triple distillation method, resulting in the production of alcohols for blending. Then they stand for at least three years in barrels, mix, and only then, scotch tape smelling of honey with a subtle taste of citrus, is bottled.
By the way, the final stage is carried out by a QSI subsidiary focused on the Russian market. Perhaps that is why the Scottish drink came to the taste of our compatriots. It is customary to drink it not only in its pure form, but also with the addition of cola, crushed ice, soda or as part of alcoholic cocktails.
Scottish Collie Whiskey at a Glance
As mentioned at the beginning, young whiskey is created by triple distillation from crystal clear water and golden barley. Alcohols for blending are produced by the famous distillery of Scotland, which is located in the highlands region, where the best conditions for further production are created.
An independent company was founded in 1886 and now the fifth generation of the family continues the tradition.
William Grant & Sons Ltd. repeatedly and deservedly received the title of "Best distillery of the year."
Scottish Collie whiskey assortment is rich and diverse - from temperamental young to mature rich varieties.
Main characteristics:
- Color: golden amber.
- The aroma is sweet with honey notes of sherry and orange marmalade.
- Taste: rich, velvety with smoky nuances and accents of citrus.
- Gastronomic combinations: in pure form with ice, with cola or plain water. However, it is worth noting that, according to professionals, adhesive tape is one of the best bases for making alcoholic cocktails.
Friendship legend
There are two legends about the appearance of the image of the shepherd and the name on the label. According to the first, "Scottish Collie" is named after Lewes, the companion and best friend of Robert Burns. And the founder of the company William Grant & Sons, as you know, was a big fan of the national hero and poet of Scotland.
The second legend tells a touching story of the loyalty of the collie to William Grant himself. The dog’s name was Jock and he was a reliable assistant. During the trip with his master, the dog guarded not only him, but also whiskey barrels, which were loaded onto ships in large quantities for further shipment to Western fans of scotch tape. Once Jock was able to prevent a robbery attack on a warehouse located in the city of Glasgow. The vicious growl and sonorous barking woke up the guards and the owner, and the robbers managed to be detained.
Collie has long been dead, as well as William Grant, who died in 1923. The famous whiskey Scottish Collie was created at the end of the last century by David Stewart - a master of blending. At that time, the company’s affairs were managed by the great-grandson of brand founder Sandy. It was he who owned the idea of the name of a new drink.
Dreams
Before starting his own business, William Grant had to change several occupations. He was a courier, assistant shoe maker, security guard. He was interested in whiskey production while working as an accountant in a small distillery. Dreamy William often imagined what his family business would look like: his own production, dedicated workers and the result of work well done is “the best sip in the valley” (which is now known as Scottish Collie whiskey). However, it is worth noting that he did not just dream, but for a long time and persistently went to the goal and, in the end, embodied all his desires. True, it took two decades.
Throughout this time, Grant lived in austerity. First, he saved 750 pounds, which he spent on the purchase of a small piece of land in Speyside. With the same money, he purchased old equipment and building materials. It happened in 1886. By that time, the beginner distillery had a family and 9 children. Therefore, the company was built together. Even two little daughters found a lesson - they helped their mother in the kitchen and brought ready food to their brothers, father and other workers.
The path to your own distillery
Whiskey Scottish Collie did not appear immediately. For the first 11 years, the family was exclusively involved in distillation. The job was that they drove alcohol for large companies that created blended whiskey. The start of our own production was helped by chance. Pattison`s, which bought up their raw materials, declared itself bankrupt and the distilleries that lost their sales outlets began to close, but Grants did not like this state of affairs. They decided to do blending and selling their own whiskey.
The implementation of the new drink fell on the shoulders of Grant’s son-in-law - Charles Gordon, who was able to rent a store in Glazko and began phoning potential buyers himself, offering them "the best sip of the valley." The success of the drink could not be called instantaneous - in the first month only 12 bottles of Scotish Collie whiskey were sold. But the perseverance did not weaken, and sales gradually increased.
By the time the founder died, the company was known far beyond the borders of England. The family business did not close not only during the war years, but even survived the days of Prohibition. Over 50 years of existence, only five blending masters have been replaced. The first was William himself, and the last - Brian Kinsman. Today, William Grant & Sons is led by the great-grandson of Grant Peter.
Production Features
Most of the malt alcohols are produced in two distilleries - Balvenie and Glenfiddich, and cereals in Girvan, which was built in the west of Scotland in 1963.
The ripening of alcohols lasts at least three years and occurs in oak barrels of bourbon. Then, to create a blend, they are mixed and only then the finished blend is aged for about six months in white oak barrels. This technology allows you to create a bright color and a pleasant honey aroma, which is famous for Scottish Collie whiskey.
The company has its own coopers workshop. It is they who burn the old barrels and produce new ones.
William Grant & Sons sacredly honors tradition and also maintains continuity. Therefore, each subsequent blender who has taken up his duties strictly follows the recipe created by his predecessor. In 2008, this post was taken by Brian Kinsman.
Kinds
"Scottish Collie" 40% prepared according to the classical scheme with a three-year exposure. It has a bright tea color and a pleasant honey-citrus smell. Reviews on Scottish Collie whiskey claim that a mild flavor is dominated by notes of vanilla and orange. And the aftertaste pleases with a light haze.
Scottish Collie 12 Years Old, 40%. Scotch has a rich honey color. Due to the fact that the ripening process took place in bourbon barrels, the drink acquired a bright golden color and a strong aroma. A 20-year exposure left its mark: whiskey acquired an oily taste. Despite this, it is easy to drink, and the original packaging in the form of a tube or box complete with glasses makes it an excellent gift for lovers of strong alcoholic drinks.
Whiskey price:
- Scottish Collie 0.35 L 12-year-old - from 550 to 690 rubles.
- Whiskey Scottish Collie 0.5 L 12-year-old - from 900 to 1,150 rubles.
- Scottish Collie 0.2 L 12-year-old - from 450 to 600 rubles.
- Scotish Collie whiskey 0.7 L 12-year-old - from 900 to 1,150 rubles.
- Scottish Collie 3-year-old 0.5 liter - from 650 to 750 rubles.
- Scottish Collie 1 liter 3-year-old - from 750 to 900 rubles.
- Scottish Collie 3-year-old 0.7 liter - from 650 to 750 rubles.
- Scottish Collie 3-year-old 0.5 liter in a gift box with a signature glass - from 950 to 1,100 rubles.
- Scottish Collie 12-year-old 0.5 liter in a gift tube - from 1,000 to 1,100 rubles.
- Scottish Collie 3-year-old 0.7 liter in a gift tube - from 1,150 to 1,220 rubles.
For a larger company, the manufacturer suggests buying whiskey on a swing stand with four signature glasses. The cost of the set is from 9,500 to 10,500 rubles.
Consumer opinion
In their reviews, buyers drew attention to the fact that the design of the bottle is completely unremarkable, but given that you have an inexpensive blended whiskey, you should not have expected more.
And now about the content. The fragrance was called pleasant with a touch of citrus and vanilla. The sharpness is average, therefore, with classical use, that is, in its pure form, the alcohol content is not felt at all. The finish was short with light shades of haze.
I almost forgot about the main indicator of all alcoholic drinks! Men have confirmed that after consuming Scottish Collie in a reasonable amount, the head does not hurt. Therefore, boldly buy and warm yourself on cold winter days.