New Grouse in the Stable

Already Scotland’s favourite whisky, The Famous Grouse, is spreading its wings this summer with a UK launch of the latest addition to the stable – The Black Grouse.

The Black Grouse is a blend of The Famous Grouse mixed with Islay malt whisky to create a rich smoky, peaty blend with the trademark quality and smoothness of The Famous Grouse. Designed to bridge the gap between the challenging Islay malts and the easier malts and blends, the Black Grouse was launched in Sweden last year and has already become a best seller.

In his 2008 ‘Scotch Whisky Bible’*, Jim Murray hailed it as “a real treasure -the best new blended scotch whisky” awarding a total score of 94/100. Of the finish he said that it was “so gentle, with waves of smoke and oak lapping on an oaky shore….brilliant.”

Our samplers also gave it the thumbs up.

I’m not a great whisky drinker although loyal to the national dram and willing to try anything. This one wasn’t too smoky and didn’t leave me gasping for breath. It had a pleasant, almost fruity/flowery flavour and I can see it being a gentle introduction to the Islays.

John, who also finds the Islay malts generally too strong for his liking, agreed that the Black Grouse was softer and smoother and would go down very well.

Chef David is a keen whisky drinker and found this an interesting experience. “I’d say this is is an anytime whisky – you could drink it on its own, before or after a meal,” he said. “It has a hint of honey, salt, heather hills and a mellow, well balanced flavour. It has a nice amber colour with a soft aftertaste.

“It would be perfect with sautéed warm strawberries, finished with black pepper and cream, or it would make a fine replacement for cognac after a meal.” He added, “This is to the culinary world what Dire Straits are to the music world.”

The Black Grouse is now available in the UK with a RRP of £15.49. It is only available in Sainsbury’s until December, although you should be able to find a dram in your local hostelry.

In a pioneering new partnership with the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB), 50p from every bottle sold is being donated to a conservation campaign to save black grouse across the UK. Black grouse are found in upland areas of Wales, the Pennines and most of Scotland, but this endangered species is now under real threat of extinction. Positive habitat management is essential to the future of the black grouse, and revenues from the sales of The Black Grouse will help the RSPB to fund over 85,000 acres of UK land for conservation purposes.

*Jim Murray’s Whisky Bible 2008 is the fifth edition of the highly successful and innovative book that was first launched in 2003. Now well-established, the book takes account of all the latest developments in the world of the wee dram containing tasting notes on over 3,800 whiskies.

Purchase the 2008 Bible here

Purchase the 2009 Bible here (when available).