The Famous Grouse
The Scotch blend with the red grouse, Scotland's own best-selling whisky for decades. All about its taste, types, how to drink it and the glass that goes with it.
The whisky the Scots drink themselves
The Famous Grouse was created in 1896 by Matthew Gloag, a wine and whisky merchant in Perth, as 'The Grouse Brand'. The red grouse on the label, drawn by his daughter, refers to the game bird of the Scottish Highlands. As customers kept asking for 'the famous grouse', that became the official name in 1905. Since 1980, it has been Scotland's best-selling whisky, and the brand belongs to Edrington, which also owns The Macallan and Highland Park.
Those two single malts also form the heart of the blend, complemented by other malts and grain whiskies. The result is a soft, balanced blend with honey, orange and a hint of oak: easy to enjoy neat, great on the rocks and perfect for mixing. Alongside the classic 'Finest' are the smoky Smoky Black, the Sherry Cask Finish and the blended malt Naked Malt, formerly known as The Naked Grouse.
In brief
What types of The Famous Grouse are there?
The Famous Grouse Finest
The classic since 1896: smooth and balanced, with honey, orange, and a hint of oak. For drinking neat, on the rocks, or mixed.
Smoky Black
The blend with a generous portion of peated malt from the Highlands. Smoky, warm, and slightly sweet, without the heaviness of an Islay.
Sherry Cask Finish
Finished in European oak sherry casks. Richer and sweeter than the Finest, with dark chocolate, maple syrup, and toasted nuts.
Naked Malt
Formerly The Naked Grouse: a blend of single malts only, finished for six months in first-fill sherry casks. Raisins, apple, and fudge.
The Famous Grouse 1 liter
The liter bottle for your home bar. Better value per glass if you often serve whisky and cola or ginger ale.
The Famous Grouse 4.5 liter
The giant bottle for the pub, clubhouse, or a big party. With a pour spout, it’s a real eye-catcher on the bar.
The Finest is more than good enough for mixing; for drinking neat, Smoky Black and Naked Malt are best.
Smooth, rounded, and lightly honeyed
Honey & orange
Soft honey, orange peel, and a light floral note, with some oak and a hint of sherry in the background.
Smooth and balanced
Rounded and smooth, with caramel, dried fruit, and a hint of spice. Hardly any bite.
Medium-length and warm
A warm, slightly sweet finish of oak and honey. Smoky Black adds a touch of smoke.
Flavor profile of The Famous Grouse Finest. Smoky Black scores 4/5 for smokiness, while Sherry Cask Finish is sweeter and richer.
Three ways to drink The Famous Grouse
The Finest is an all-rounder: neat, on the rocks, or mixed. The brand itself recommends it with ginger ale.
On the rocks
50 ml Famous Grouse over a few ice cubes in a tumbler. Simple and refreshing; the ice makes the blend even smoother.
Glass: tumbler →Famous Grouse with ginger ale
50 ml of Famous Grouse with 150 ml of ginger ale in a highball glass full of ice, with a lime wedge. Sweet, spicy, and the brand's own favorite mix. Also delicious with cola.
Glass: highball glass →Neat, the Smoky Black
30 ml of Smoky Black or Naked Malt in a tulip-shaped tasting glass, at room temperature. Let it breathe for a moment and smell the smoke or sherry. That's how you taste what a blend can do.
Glass: tasting glass →The best cocktails with The Famous Grouse
Whiskey Sour
Whisky, lemon, sugar, and egg white. A smooth blend like Grouse makes it fresh and balanced.
Penicillin
Blended Scotch, honey-ginger syrup, and lemon, topped with a layer of smoky whisky. Made in one go with Smoky Black.
Rusty Nail
Scotch and Drambuie over ice. Sweet, warm, and with two Scots in one glass.
Whisky cocktails
A roundup of all whisky cocktails, from Old Fashioned to Hot Toddy.The right glass for The Famous Grouse
A sturdy tumbler for on the rocks, a highball glass for mixing with ginger ale or cola, and a tasting glass for Smoky Black and Naked Malt. These are the glasses we recommend.
Everything else you wanted to know about The Famous Grouse
Can't find your question here? Check out our cocktail recipes or get in touch.
Go to the cocktail recipes →What percentage alcohol is in The Famous Grouse?
Which whiskies are in The Famous Grouse?
What's the difference between The Famous Grouse and Smoky Black?
Is Naked Malt from The Famous Grouse?
Famous Grouse or Johnnie Walker?
Where does the name come from?
Buy Famous Grouse
Want the bottle delivered right away? Order Famous Grouse online from Gall & Gall. Gall & Gall has 9, including 1 on sale.
Prices as of November 3, 2026, as provided by Gall & Gall. You can see the current price and stock at Gall & Gall. Glazen.nl receives a small commission if you buy something through these links; you pay nothing extra. No 18, no alcohol.
