Glen Grant 8 Years Old 1970s
75.7cl / 70 Proof%
£139.00
- Malt type: Single Malt
- Region: Scotland
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A highly sought-after, age-stated official bottling from the 1970s, preceding the metrication of the Scotch industry.
At-a-Glance
| Field | Details |
| Distillery / Bottler / Country & Region | Glen Grant Distillery / Official Bottling / Scotland, Speyside |
| Category | Single Malt Scotch Whisky |
| Age / Vintage / Bottled | 8 Years Old / Distilled circa 1960s / Bottled 1970s |
| ABV & Size(s) | 40% ABV (70 Proof) / 75.7cl (26 2/3 fl. ozs.) |
| Cask / Treatment | Not stated by the producer (Likely refill oak, combination Bourbon/Sherry) |
| Natural Colour | Not stated by the producer (Assumed caramel colouring, standard for the era) |
| Non-Chill-Filtered | No (Standard commercial chill filtration) |
| Cask Strength | No |
| Bottle count / Outturn | High volume, regular core range bottling. |
| Intended channel | Domestic UK Retail and Licensed Premises |
| Packaging | Clear glass bottle, usually simple rectangular label, often lacking a presentation box |
| Notes on discrepancies | 70 Proof and 26 2/3 fl. ozs. are key historical markers for 1970s UK domestic market releases. |
Historical Context
The Glen Grant 8 Year Old was a long-standing core pillar of the distillery's commercial strategy. The 1970s bottling is historically significant for two crucial reasons: first, it carries a verifiable 8 Year Old age statement. Second, its labelling explicitly uses the obsolete imperial measures of 70 Proof (equivalent to 40% ABV) and 26 2/3 fl. ozs. (approximately 75.7cl). This metrication-era proofing and volume definitively dates the bottling to the UK domestic market before 1980, providing irrefutable provenance.
Glen Grant was strategically positioned as a reliable, consistently light-bodied Speyside staple, making it one of the most recognizable malts of the pre-modern era. Its value today lies in the nostalgia for its age statement and the tangible link to obsolete industrial standards.
Technical Specification & Variant Map
The definitive technical specifications are 8 Years Old, 70 Proof (40% ABV), and 26 2/3 fl. ozs. (75.7cl). The liquid style is consistently light and clean, designed for broad appeal and volume sales.
Documented variants
The most sought-after variant is the Imperial 70 Proof UK domestic market bottling. Confusion may arise with a non-Imperial 40% ABV bottling that may have been released closer to 1980.
Variant Matrix
| ABV | Volume | Market | Era cues | Relative desirability |
| 70 Proof (40%) | 26 2/3 fl. ozs. (75.7cl) | UK Domestic | Imperial units, Age-stated | High (Definitive historical format) |
| 40% | 75.7cl | UK/EU (Transition) | Metric ABV, Imperial volume | Moderate |
Packaging & authenticity checklist
Authentication must focus heavily on the imperial measurements clearly displayed on the label. The closure system is crucial; vintage closures often present a high risk of failure. Given the age, bottles often lack a presentation box.
Fill Level: Inspection of the fill level is paramount. The presence of sediment is common in bottles from the 1970s. A fill level of Upper Shoulder (U/S) is expected to prevent significant value penalties due to evaporation and oxidation.
Regulatory/terminology notes
The 70 Proof marking is the definitive indicator of pre-1980 UK bottling. The 8 Year Old age statement is strictly regulated, guaranteeing a minimum maturation time.
Liquid Profile (from verifiable notes)
The profile is typically light, malty, and elegant, characteristic of Glen Grant's distillation process.
Nose: Clean, gentle, and refreshing. Notes of green apple and pear are common, underpinned by a soft malt sweetness.
Palate: Smooth and accessible. The taste focuses on cereal sweetness, light vanilla, and a refined oak spice. It is highly drinkable and consistent.
Finish: Short, clean, and dominated by malt and a gentle nutty quality.
With water: Not recommended due to the standard 40% ABV.
Distillery/Bottler Snapshot
Glen Grant (Speyside) is known globally for its consistently light, elegant, and highly accessible single malt style.1 Its historical prominence as one of the world's best-selling single malts ensures continued brand recognition and collector interest.
Sourcing
Target formats/eras
Focus on 70 Proof (40% ABV) and 26 2/3 fl. ozs. (75.7cl) imperial measures.
Red flags to avoid
Low fill levels (below U/S). Bottles labeled post-1980 without imperial proofing.
Condition thresholds
Minimum Upper Shoulder (U/S) fill level is required.
Margin/velocity expectations
High velocity and high margin potential due to the price differential between auction and retail.
