The Famous Grouse
Encyclopedia
The Famous Grouse is a brand of blended
Scotch whisky
, first produced by Matthew Gloag & Son Ltd. in 1897, and now produced by The Edrington Group
. The malt whiskies used in The Famous Grouse blend include The Glenrothes
, Highland Park Single Malt
and Macallan Single Malt. Its emblem is the Red Grouse
.
and wine
merchant
in Perth, Scotland
. Gloag purchased whiskies from distilleries around Scotland
, and when Queen Victoria
visited Perth in 1842, he was invited to supply the wines for the royal
banquet
.
In 1860, his son, William Gloag, took over the company and began producing blended whiskies. In 1896, William's son, Matthew, named after his grandfather, took over the company. He created The Grouse Brand blend in 1897, which was later renamed "The Famous Grouse."
In 1970, Matthew Gloag & Son Ltd., owned by the Gloag family, was sold to Highland Distillers
, after the death of the chairman, Matthew Frederick Gloag.
In 2007 a peated special version of The Famous Grouse called The Black Grouse developed for the Swedish market was released. The packaging displays a black grouse
in place of the usual red grouse. The following year a special version, meant for chilling, was released called Snow Grouse. The packaging features a ptarmigan.
Blended whiskey
A blended whisky is the product of blending different types of whiskies and often also neutral and near-neutral spirits, coloring, and flavorings...
Scotch whisky
Scotch whisky
Scotch whisky is whisky made in Scotland.Scotch whisky is divided into five distinct categories: Single Malt Scotch Whisky, Single Grain Scotch Whisky, Blended Malt Scotch Whisky , Blended Grain Scotch Whisky, and Blended Scotch Whisky.All Scotch whisky must be aged in oak barrels for at least three...
, first produced by Matthew Gloag & Son Ltd. in 1897, and now produced by The Edrington Group
The Edrington Group
The Edrington Group Limited is a major Scotch whisky company involved in blending, bottling, distributing and marketing. It produces several well-known brands, including The Famous Grouse and Cutty Sark, and premium single malts The Macallan and Highland Park...
. The malt whiskies used in The Famous Grouse blend include The Glenrothes
The Glenrothes
The Glenrothes is a single malt Scotch whisky, produced at the Glenrothes Distillery, beside the Burn of Rothes in the Speyside region. The Glenrothes is used in blended scotch whiskies such as Cutty Sark and The Famous Grouse...
, Highland Park Single Malt
Highland Park Single Malt
Highland Park Single Malt is a Scotch whisky distilled by Highland Park Distillery, Kirkwall in Orkney, the most northerly whisky distillery in Scotland, half a mile north of that at Scapa. Blackwood Distillery in Shetland presently produces only gin and vodka .Highland Park has performed well at...
and Macallan Single Malt. Its emblem is the Red Grouse
Red grouse
The Red Grouse is a medium sized bird of the grouse family which is found in heather moorland in Great Britain and Ireland. It is usually classified as a subspecies of the Willow Grouse but is sometimes considered to be a separate species Lagopus scoticus...
.
History
Matthew Gloag was a grocerGrocer
A grocer is a bulk seller of food. Beginning as early as the 14th century, a grocer was a dealer in comestible dry goods such as spices, pepper, sugar, and cocoa, tea and coffee...
and wine
Wine
Wine is an alcoholic beverage, made of fermented fruit juice, usually from grapes. The natural chemical balance of grapes lets them ferment without the addition of sugars, acids, enzymes, or other nutrients. Grape wine is produced by fermenting crushed grapes using various types of yeast. Yeast...
merchant
Merchant
A merchant is a businessperson who trades in commodities that were produced by others, in order to earn a profit.Merchants can be one of two types:# A wholesale merchant operates in the chain between producer and retail merchant...
in Perth, Scotland
Perth, Scotland
Perth is a town and former city and royal burgh in central Scotland. Located on the banks of the River Tay, it is the administrative centre of Perth and Kinross council area and the historic county town of Perthshire...
. Gloag purchased whiskies from distilleries around Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
, and when Queen Victoria
Victoria of the United Kingdom
Victoria was the monarch of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland from 20 June 1837 until her death. From 1 May 1876, she used the additional title of Empress of India....
visited Perth in 1842, he was invited to supply the wines for the royal
Monarchy
A monarchy is a form of government in which the office of head of state is usually held until death or abdication and is often hereditary and includes a royal house. In some cases, the monarch is elected...
banquet
Banquet
A banquet is a large meal or feast, complete with main courses and desserts. It usually serves a purpose such as a charitable gathering, a ceremony, or a celebration, and is often preceded or followed by speeches in honour of someone....
.
In 1860, his son, William Gloag, took over the company and began producing blended whiskies. In 1896, William's son, Matthew, named after his grandfather, took over the company. He created The Grouse Brand blend in 1897, which was later renamed "The Famous Grouse."
In 1970, Matthew Gloag & Son Ltd., owned by the Gloag family, was sold to Highland Distillers
Highland Distillers
Highland Distillers was founded in 1887 by the Robertson family. In 1970 Highland purchased Matthew Gloag & Son Ltd., producers of the Famous Grouse blended whisky and acquired The Macallan single malt Scotch producers in 1996. Highland also produced the Highland Park brand whisky. Highland...
, after the death of the chairman, Matthew Frederick Gloag.
In 2007 a peated special version of The Famous Grouse called The Black Grouse developed for the Swedish market was released. The packaging displays a black grouse
Black Grouse
The Black Grouse or Blackgame is a large bird in the grouse family. It is a sedentary species, breeding across northern Eurasia in moorland and bog areas near to woodland, mostly boreal...
in place of the usual red grouse. The following year a special version, meant for chilling, was released called Snow Grouse. The packaging features a ptarmigan.
Promotions and sponsorships
- It is supported by a series of award winning television adverts featuring "Gilbert" the Grouse, named after the rugbyRugby footballRugby football is a style of football named after Rugby School in the United Kingdom. It is seen most prominently in two current sports, rugby league and rugby union.-History:...
ball manufacturer. - The Famous Grouse has become known in the United KingdomUnited KingdomThe United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
for focusing a great deal of its advertising at ChristmasChristmasChristmas or Christmas Day is an annual holiday generally celebrated on December 25 by billions of people around the world. It is a Christian feast that commemorates the birth of Jesus Christ, liturgically closing the Advent season and initiating the season of Christmastide, which lasts twelve days...
. The Famous Grouse has also targeted November 30, or St. Andrew's DaySt. Andrew's DaySt Andrew's Day is the feast day of Saint Andrew. It is celebrated on 30 November.Saint Andrew is the patron saint of Scotland, and St Andrew's Day is Scotland's official national day...
, a Scottish traditional day, for advertising. - The Famous Grouse was the primary sponsor of the Perth-based football team St. Johnstone between 1986 and 1989 and again between 1991 and 1998. It also sponsored the Scotland national rugby union teamScotland national rugby union teamThe Scotland national rugby union team represent Scotland in international rugby union. Rugby union in Scotland is administered by the Scottish Rugby Union. The Scotland rugby union team is currently ranked eighth in the IRB World Rankings as of 19 September 2011...
from 1990 until 2007, and is now 'The Official Spirit of Scottish Rugby', making this one of the longest running sports sponsorships in the UK.
In popular culture
- The Famous Grouse is the drink of choice for several characters in The CorpsThe Corps Series (Marine Corps)The Corps is a series of war novels written by W.E.B. Griffin about the United States Marine Corps before and during the years of World War II and the Korean War...
, a series of novels by W. E. B. GriffinW. E. B. GriffinW. E. B. Griffin is a writer of military and detective fiction with 38 novels in six series published under that name. He has also published under several pseudonyms....
. - The Famous Grouse Experience is located at the Glenturret DistilleryGlenturret DistilleryThe Glenturret Distillery is located on the banks of the Turret River two miles north west of Crieff in Perthshire, Scotland. The distillery is hidden in the valley and its secluded location may have contributed to its early history as the site of several illicit bothy stills. The high hills to...
in CrieffCrieffCrieff is a market town in Perth and Kinross, Scotland. It lies on the A85 road between Perth and Crianlarich and also lies on the A822 between Greenloaning and Aberfeldy. The A822 joins onto the A823 which leads to Dunfermline....
, PerthshirePerthshirePerthshire, officially the County of Perth , is a registration county in central Scotland. It extends from Strathmore in the east, to the Pass of Drumochter in the north, Rannoch Moor and Ben Lui in the west, and Aberfoyle in the south...
.
External links
- http://www.maxxium.com Global Distributors
- The Famous Grouse website
- Details on how to visit The Famous Grouse Experience
- Dr. Whisky on The Famous Grouse
- The Black Grouse website