Grand old parr 12 years review

Scotland- On the nose, the whiskey is malty, very scented, cake-like. Big on the palate; notably firm-bodied and malty, with notes of grain and toasted sesame seeds and a touch of honey. The finish is soothing and long, developing slight lemon grass and peatiness.

At Drinkhacker, we strive to bring you reviews of the latest and the greatest in the spirits world, as well as the tried and true classics, but sometimes there’s a bottle out there that gets lost on our shelves. Old Parr Blended Scotch Whisky 12 Years Old has been one of those bottles. Old Parr (or Grand Old Parr to be exact, per the label) was, according to the brand’s owner Diageo, inspired by the legend of Old Thomas Parr, who reportedly lived for 152 years and 9 months.

The brand first appeared in 1909, and its current brown, square, and dimpled packaging is a holdover from some of the earliest bottlings. While there are 15 and 18 year old releases of Old Parr, as well as a no-age-statement offering, the core of the lineup is the well-traveled 12 year old. You can find it in the states, as well as Latin America (it’s wildly popular in Colombia), but curiously it hasn’t been available in the UK or Europe since the 1980s. But we’ve probably wasted enough time not sharing our thoughts on this one with you, so let’s dive in!

The nose on Old Parr 12 is immediately honey sweet with a rich maltiness and notes of shortbread cookie, lemon, golden raisin, and linseed oil. Hanging over all of that is the slightest hint of smoke. It’s more complex than I would have expected, bordering on a single malt in its depth. On the palate, things are a little more restrained. The body is light with chewy cereals and baking spice (heavy on the cinnamon and nutmeg) and layered with subtle notes of dried oranges and darker fruits, evidence perhaps of some sherry aging in the blend. It comes dangerously close to a saccharine level of sweetness but gets saved in the end by a salty touch of brine and smoke. It’s easy to see why this is a blend with broad appeal.

80 proof.

B+ / $40 / mhdkk.com

Old Parr Blended Scotch Whisky 12 Years Old

$40

Drew Beard

Drew Beard is assistant editor for Drinkhacker and winner of several booze-related merit badges, including Certified Specialist in Spirits and Executive Bourbon Steward. A former federal employee turned hotelier and spirits journalist, he looks forward to his next midlife crisis.

There is very little to argue about here. Indeed, a blend capable of competing with more than a few single malts out there! I don’t need to put bells and whistles on this one, as this is a true testimony to the art of blending

• A gentle mixture of vanilla, oranges and soft smoke and peat, sitting against something slightly citric. The orange notes intensify (Jaffa cakes!), with hints of biscuity-cereals and sweet porridge. Some sweet fruit – berries and raspberries – bringing in a slightly fizzy sensation. All very mellow but never dull.

Earthy and ashy, the smoke is more upfront, making for a gentle yet distinctive earthy-leathery mouthfeel. The grain manifests itself now in the form of bread and toast, whereas the fruit turns into dried oranges and marmalade. My main issue with this is that it’s also a bit thin, although it has to be said that thanks to the oily-viscous touch, it hides it quite well.

Nose: Well-balanced nose with sherried notes of orange, nutmeg, wine gums and vanilla. Water introduces a heathery/earthy smoke note.

Palate: Chewy. It's well balanced and juicy but with little jabs of citrus to keep you interested.

Finish: Long and mellow, starts cakey then comes pepper.

Comment: A fine, well-weighted pretty lush blend.

Score: 8

Michael Jackson

Taster

Nose: Malty, very scented, cake-like. Linseed.

Palate: Big. Notably firm-bodied. Malty. Cereal grains. Toasted sesame seeds. Demerara sugar and raisins. Honey. There even seems to be a hint of chilli in there somewhere.

Finish: Soothing. Long. Developing slight lemon grass and peatiness.

Comment: If you want to taste barley in a blend, look no further than this muscular heavyweight.

Yet for something so ubiquitous, hardly anyone knows anything about Grand Old Parr. Even people who drink it don’t actually seem to know much about who made it, what’s in it, or who it is named for. The brand doesn’t have a website, and other offerings, such as the 18 Year Old, are as rare and the main 12 Year Old is commonplace.

First, Grand Old Parr is named for Thomas Parr, a semi-legendary Englishman reputed to have lived for 152 years, from the late 15th to the mid-17th Centuries. “Old Parr” was certainly a real person, and undoubtedly lived for a very long time by the standards of the day, but stories of his century-and-a-half lifespan or fathering bastards at the age of 100 should be taken with a pinch of salt. His remains are in Westminster Abbey, so you can visit them on your next trip to London. The Grand Old Parr brand dates back to 1909.

Nowadays Grand Old Parr is owned by Diageo, the drinks conglomerate that owns the aforementioned Johnnie Walker, Cardhu, J&B, and a couple of dozen other blended and single malt brands. Little information is available on where the blend comes from, or how it might have changed over the years, but running down the Diageo list of distilleries will provide a good starting point for guessing what might be in it.

Old Tom Parr (Credit: Wikimedia Commons)

The Whiskey I usually don’t go for brown glass whiskey bottles, but Grand Old Parr’s is undeniably cool. It’s turtle-shell surface and squat, squared design come together with the labeling style to make it look like something straight out of a pirate flick. I can easily imagine Graham Chapman swinging into the rigging on the set of Yellowbeard guzzling from a bottle of Grand Old Parr… and if you believe the Parr legend, somehow that timing seems to fit. It is bottled at 43% abv.

In the glass, the scotch has a gold and slightly coppery appearance, suggestive of more body than the typical 12 year old blend. That point complements the 43% abv, which is also somewhat more than one expects from the typical blend of this type.

The nose is mellow and rich with musty oak, plus a generous helping of malty cereal, with notes of dried grass and sea breeze, and a little candied dried fruit. It’s rich and malty sweet on the palate, with some toffee and dried fruit flavoring, and a dash of spice. The finish is a long, lingering one, but only slightly warm and slightly peppery.

This stuff has a rich, full-bodied, but understated character to it. For a plainly mass market 12 year old blend, Grand Old Parr is actually a very pleasant and enjoyable scotch. If you haven’t tried it yet, do so. It’s easy to find, so there are no excuses.

Is Grand Old Parr good whiskey?

The unique notes of Cragganmore malts reveal themselves extraordinarily, thanks to the low presence of smoke in Old Parr 18's blend. The result is a complex, full-flavored and yet smooth whisky of unparalleled quality.

How much alcohol is in Old Parr 12?

PRODUCT SUMMARY.

Which is better Old Parr or Johnnie Walker Black?

For fun, I did a side-by-side of Grand Old Parr and Johnnie Walker Black. The JW Black is smokier and a bit more interesting on the palate, but the Parr has a better nose and a much better mouthfeel. They're both good blends for the price, can't really go wrong with either. Personally, I'd go with Parr.

How do you drink old Parr 12?

Method. Combine Old Parr Aged 12 Years, Ginger Syrup, and lemon juice into a cocktail shaker with ice. Shake well and strain into a rocks glass over ice. Top with premium club soda and garnish with an orange wedge.