Girvan

Girvan was built by William Grant & Sons on the Ayrshire coast in 1963, to give the company its own supply of grain whisky for its blends. The same site is also home to the Ailsa Bay malt distillery and to the production of Hendrick's gin.

As a grain distillery, Girvan distils mainly wheat in continuous column stills rather than malted barley in pot stills. The result is a light, sweet spirit that shows vanilla, toffee and cereal notes, and which grows creamier and more tropical after long years in American oak.

William Grant has released official single grains under the Girvan Patent Still name. Much of the Girvan on the market, though, comes from independent bottlers, who prize its old casks: grain whisky of 30, 40 or even 50 years is far less costly than malt of the same age.

In our catalogue you will find Girvan from Douglas Laing (Old Particular, Xtra Old Particular), Hunter Laing (The Sovereign), Murray McDavid (Select Grain), Cadenhead's, The Vintage Malt Whisky Company (The Cooper's Choice), Duncan Taylor, Berry Bros. & Rudd and That Boutique-y Whisky Company. These are usually single casks, which makes Girvan a good way to try very old whisky at a fair price.