Monday, January 7, 2008
Grand Old Parr - The Unknown Blended Whisky
A lot of whisky drinkers feel that blended whiskies are the backwash of the rest. I agree that when looking for truly unique whisky/whiskey experiences, single malts are the way to go- but sometimes I just want a reliable and tasty drink, and I want to drink it until I get drunk.
Enter: the Grand Old Parr...
Named after the "oldest" (supposedly the oldest) man to have lived in England, Thomas Parr, the Grand Old Parr was an unknown whisky for me until I got to Costa Rica. In fact, it was so unknown that for a long time I figured it to be flat out bad. That is not the case at all.
Just to give you a point of comparison, searching "Grand Old Parr" in Google results in about 20,300, searching "The Famous Grouse" results in about 74,300.
The Grand Old Parr is a 12 year blended whisky that is as good if not better than any of the other mass market blended whiskies out there. It's presentation is totally unique. It is generally sold in a gold box and always in a square brown bottle with an interesting texture on the outside. Side note: I have often thought of building a small table lamp out of the bottle.
It's flavor is much cleaner and smoother than most of it's market equivalents, but it has some unique characteristics. I have always sensed some apple and raisin undertones, and perhaps a little bit of peat. Additionally it has a crisp after taste that is very satisfying.
I have drank it neat, and with a splash, and it holds up well. The aroma is nothing too special, but again, the word "clean" comes to mind. But, forget all that, this is my heavy drinking whisky.
On ice, this whisky can satisfy you all night. It holds up well, and does not get boreing. Where you really notice it's beauty is when you run out, and have to switch to something like Johnnie Walker Black Label; there is no contest, as the Grand Old Parr stomps all over the Johnnie.
I have never seen it for sale in the United State, but I have heard that it is available in the Miami area and it is cheap. In Costa Rica it is in the same price bracket as it's other 12 year competition.
This is another Scotch distributed by the big boys at Diageo. They also carry and 15 year and an 18 year old blended (I have a bottle of 18, but have yet to break into). Diageo says it's top markets are Japan, Mexico, Columbia and Venezuela, and claims it as well known- I guess they mean in those markets.
If you see it and it fits your budget, Grand Old Parr is worth a try.
Diageo - Grand Old Parr
Wikipedia - Thomas Parr (the namesake)
Labels: 12-years, Blended, Scotland, Whisky/Whiskey
Comments:
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I googled "Grand Old Parr" and came to your blog.
I'm actually drinking Old Parr 12 years now.
I'm posting this comment because you mentioned Japan as one of the biggest markets of this whisky and becasue I live in Japan. This whisky is probably the most famous blended whisky here. This is also known here as the first whisky ever brought in Japan. So I suppose the original recipe is more than 100 years old.
It has an aroma of honey and distincive aftertaste of peat. I like this rich and complicated blend.
I'm actually drinking Old Parr 12 years now.
I'm posting this comment because you mentioned Japan as one of the biggest markets of this whisky and becasue I live in Japan. This whisky is probably the most famous blended whisky here. This is also known here as the first whisky ever brought in Japan. So I suppose the original recipe is more than 100 years old.
It has an aroma of honey and distincive aftertaste of peat. I like this rich and complicated blend.
# posted by 
: January 15, 2008 8:18 AM
: January 15, 2008 8:18 AM
Is this for sale in the US? My wife is drinking a glass right now, but the bottle was bought in Ecuador. I did a couple quick Google searches, and found a lot of info on the mysterious libation, but I couldn't discern a US location.
Thanks, and the next one is on me.
Ari
Thanks, and the next one is on me.
Ari
# posted by : January 16, 2008 6:14 PM
: January 16, 2008 6:14 PM
I emailed Diageo, but they were not much more helpful than their website.
According to them Old Parr is not available in the United States. However, as I mentioned in the original post, I have heard from people that it can be found in Miami.
See their response below.
Keith
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
January 23, 2008
Dear Keith,
Thank you for taking time to contact Diageo. We appreciate hearing from our
consumers because your feedback is important.
Grand Old Parr is not available in United States but top markets are Japan,
Mexico, Colombia and Venezuela. We apologize but we are not able to post
answers to individual questions online.
Once again, thank you for contacting Diageo.
Sincerely,
Lorena D.
Diageo Consumer Representative
Please enjoy our fine wines, spirits and beers responsibly - refer to
www.b4udrink.org
Check out www.thebar.com for fabulous drink recipes, party ideas and more
According to them Old Parr is not available in the United States. However, as I mentioned in the original post, I have heard from people that it can be found in Miami.
See their response below.
Keith
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
January 23, 2008
Dear Keith,
Thank you for taking time to contact Diageo. We appreciate hearing from our
consumers because your feedback is important.
Grand Old Parr is not available in United States but top markets are Japan,
Mexico, Colombia and Venezuela. We apologize but we are not able to post
answers to individual questions online.
Once again, thank you for contacting Diageo.
Sincerely,
Lorena D.
Diageo Consumer Representative
Please enjoy our fine wines, spirits and beers responsibly - refer to
www.b4udrink.org
Check out www.thebar.com for fabulous drink recipes, party ideas and more
I want to know the address to the old parr distillery so I can visit it... Where can I find this info?
# posted by : January 24, 2008 4:01 PM
: January 24, 2008 4:01 PM
Since Old Parr is a blended, it wouldn't make sense that it is one distillery, however on the bottle the following address appears:
Macdonald Greenlees Ltd.
3a Palmerston Place, Edinburgh
so who knows...
Via an internet search there is the added address and phone:
5 Lochside Way
Edinburgh Park
Edinburgh EH12 9DT
Tel: 0131 519 2000
Fax: 0131 519 2001
I am not sure which is more accurate, so a call might be the best start. I would love to hear what information you find out about the blend and folks over there after you visit.
Macdonald Greenlees Ltd.
3a Palmerston Place, Edinburgh
so who knows...
Via an internet search there is the added address and phone:
5 Lochside Way
Edinburgh Park
Edinburgh EH12 9DT
Tel: 0131 519 2000
Fax: 0131 519 2001
I am not sure which is more accurate, so a call might be the best start. I would love to hear what information you find out about the blend and folks over there after you visit.
Great blog!
I just received a bottle of Grand Old Parr from Venezuela as a gift.
This very unique scotch is a must in any scotch lover's bar. Its distinctive and sweet after taste, is unparalleled!
I grew up in Venezuela, where people drink scotch for sport.
The Grand Old Parr whisky has been considered by many as one of the finest whiskies sold not only in the country, but also in Latin America.
I now live now in the USA. Here, I have never been able to buy a bottle of Grand Old Parr. However, two weeks ago, I was visited by a sister who traveled from Venezuela. She was kind enough to bring me a bottle of the Grand Old Parr, for which she paid the approximate equivalent of $85.00 in Venezuelan currency. I sadly report that as of today, I have just enough for one more shot of this marvelous scotch.
If you haven't tried this whisky, I am really sorry for you. This is more serious than your own funeral. Please run to Venezuela and get a bottle.
Cheers!
D.Barman.
I just received a bottle of Grand Old Parr from Venezuela as a gift.
This very unique scotch is a must in any scotch lover's bar. Its distinctive and sweet after taste, is unparalleled!
I grew up in Venezuela, where people drink scotch for sport.
The Grand Old Parr whisky has been considered by many as one of the finest whiskies sold not only in the country, but also in Latin America.
I now live now in the USA. Here, I have never been able to buy a bottle of Grand Old Parr. However, two weeks ago, I was visited by a sister who traveled from Venezuela. She was kind enough to bring me a bottle of the Grand Old Parr, for which she paid the approximate equivalent of $85.00 in Venezuelan currency. I sadly report that as of today, I have just enough for one more shot of this marvelous scotch.
If you haven't tried this whisky, I am really sorry for you. This is more serious than your own funeral. Please run to Venezuela and get a bottle.
Cheers!
D.Barman.
# posted by : January 24, 2008 5:40 PM
: January 24, 2008 5:40 PM
I was born in Japan in 1931, and came to the U.S. in 1944, and now an U.S. citizen, and live in Highland Park, north shore suburb of Chicago. I guess this name was given after Highland Park in Scotland (there is a whisky made in Highland Park, Scotland!).
I have been enjoying this whiky (why it's spelled whisky rather than whiskey here in America? Does anyone know?)
Old Parr is THE MOST RESPECTED WHISKY in Japan, and always my family scotch. Here's a suggestion to buy this jewel inexpensively. Try duty-free shop at airports in Japan and Great Britain. Whenever our three daughters travel to abroad, they always bring them to me as a souvenir, and I always keep several bottles for myself and offer to special guests visiting me. As a matter of fact, people call me "Old Yoshi (my first name)" because I tell guests how old Old Parr lived and I plan to live until I'll be 152 years old. Happy drinking, everyone!
Yoshi Sekiguchi, a visual communicator
I have been enjoying this whiky (why it's spelled whisky rather than whiskey here in America? Does anyone know?)
Old Parr is THE MOST RESPECTED WHISKY in Japan, and always my family scotch. Here's a suggestion to buy this jewel inexpensively. Try duty-free shop at airports in Japan and Great Britain. Whenever our three daughters travel to abroad, they always bring them to me as a souvenir, and I always keep several bottles for myself and offer to special guests visiting me. As a matter of fact, people call me "Old Yoshi (my first name)" because I tell guests how old Old Parr lived and I plan to live until I'll be 152 years old. Happy drinking, everyone!
Yoshi Sekiguchi, a visual communicator
I had the chance to repeatedly "taste" this great whisky at the Old Cataract hotel in Aswan back in 1989. I believe i finished the bottle, which was covered in dust and at the back of the cabinet in the main bar. Ah, Egypt!
hi, i'm from colombia, this is one of the best and most expensive whiskey over there. one bottle in the store is about 50 to 80 dollars. this whiskey is very well known .
i got to bring 2 12 years bottles and, boy i was happy.
if anyone can get their hands here in the usa,please let us know..
i got to bring 2 12 years bottles and, boy i was happy.
if anyone can get their hands here in the usa,please let us know..
# posted by : February 19, 2008 7:19 PM
: February 19, 2008 7:19 PM
I have a bottle of Grand Old Parr that was given to me in 1980 by a very close family friend who has since passed away. In 1980 I was told he was given this bottle when he sold his stone business in New Jersey which was back in 1971. This puts the bottle in the area of 50 plus years old. I want to sell it to someone that appreciates it but do not know where to post it. I once found a site where I posted a picture and received an offer of $450.00 - I was just testing the waters back then. My email address is joealvaro1@comcast.net - I would appreciate it if somene can point me in the right direction to sell this bottle, which has never been opened, or make me an offer yourself. Thanks in advance and please eamil me your response versus posting it here.
# posted by : April 7, 2008 5:39 PM
: April 7, 2008 5:39 PM
Hi!
This is Yoshi Sekiguchi, and I viewed my comment today and I realized I made a big error and in my comment that was posted and I want to correct it.
The year I came to the U.S. was 1964 (the year of Tokyo Olympic) rather than 1944.In 1944, the WW!! was still on and I was a 2nd grader in high school then, and much earlier to enjoy Grand Old Parr.
I was singing American Country Music in Japan, and opened up a
restaurant call "El Paso" in 1961.
Of course, I kept at least one bottle of Grand Old Parr, and it was loved by Japanese people who appreciated good Scotch.
it was one of my favorite memories.
Sorry about my careless error!
This is Yoshi Sekiguchi, and I viewed my comment today and I realized I made a big error and in my comment that was posted and I want to correct it.
The year I came to the U.S. was 1964 (the year of Tokyo Olympic) rather than 1944.In 1944, the WW!! was still on and I was a 2nd grader in high school then, and much earlier to enjoy Grand Old Parr.
I was singing American Country Music in Japan, and opened up a
restaurant call "El Paso" in 1961.
Of course, I kept at least one bottle of Grand Old Parr, and it was loved by Japanese people who appreciated good Scotch.
it was one of my favorite memories.
Sorry about my careless error!
Hi to everybody.
I am from Colombia to be exact from Valledupar. Here in my city we drink Old Parr like water. My family own a small liquor store here and let me tell you they sell from 1500 to 2000 boxes of Old Parr a year in a town of less than 400000 habitants. That is like 18000 to 24000 bottles. We drink it a lot in small warm shots.
I am from Colombia to be exact from Valledupar. Here in my city we drink Old Parr like water. My family own a small liquor store here and let me tell you they sell from 1500 to 2000 boxes of Old Parr a year in a town of less than 400000 habitants. That is like 18000 to 24000 bottles. We drink it a lot in small warm shots.
# posted by : April 19, 2008 7:31 PM
: April 19, 2008 7:31 PM
Hi im colombian but i live in sweden, every time somebody visit colombia theybring me back atleast 2 bottles of this fine whisky i love it.
It has a song to made by Silvestre Dangond 100 000 litros de Old Parr
and they also make Fiesta Grand Old Parr this is one of the best whiskys i tried a lot of whiskys but nono Old Parr is my favourite!!
It has a song to made by Silvestre Dangond 100 000 litros de Old Parr
and they also make Fiesta Grand Old Parr this is one of the best whiskys i tried a lot of whiskys but nono Old Parr is my favourite!!
# posted by : May 14, 2008 4:51 AM
: May 14, 2008 4:51 AM
I leave in The USA is hard to find Old Parr here but I work for an airline and everytime I travel over seas I get me a least two bottles, I love that Wiskey :)
# posted by : May 16, 2008 1:04 PM
: May 16, 2008 1:04 PM
all,
i live in Australia and found old parr on a return trip from somewhere. i was standing in front of the whiskey counter looking at the many options and the saleslady told me a real whiskey rinker knows old parr.
since that day...
old parr (unavailable in aus) has become the whiskey we drink at special occasions.
if you want a whiskey entrée before the old parr, get white heather. the flavour matches exactly.
i live in Australia and found old parr on a return trip from somewhere. i was standing in front of the whiskey counter looking at the many options and the saleslady told me a real whiskey rinker knows old parr.
since that day...
old parr (unavailable in aus) has become the whiskey we drink at special occasions.
if you want a whiskey entrée before the old parr, get white heather. the flavour matches exactly.
# posted by : May 24, 2008 8:47 AM
: May 24, 2008 8:47 AM
I was told that you can get your hands on "Grand Old Parr" at the Miami Internation Airport Or MIA. I will give it a try yes it is sold in Colombia and brought to the US. I will keep you inform of my finding in Miami. ALF. from N.C.
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