Cardhu 12 Year Old vs Secret Highland 9 Year Old 2010 (Master of Malt)

Side-by-side comparison — price, ABV, scores, tasting notes, pros & cons.

Cardhu 12 Year OldSecret Highland 9 Year Old 2010 (Master of Malt)
DistilleryCardhuMaster of Malt
RegionSpeyside
CountryScotlandScotland
TypeSingle MaltSingle Malt
ABV40%46%
Age12 yr9 yr
Price£41.5£29.95
Rating4.47/55.00/5

Cardhu 12 Year Old

Smoke0/100
Sweetness59/100
Beginner75/100
Value100/100

Secret Highland 9 Year Old 2010 (Master of Malt)

Smoke0/100
Sweetness59/100
Beginner75/100
Value100/100

Cardhu 12 Year Old

SmokySweetFruitySpicyWoodyFloral

Secret Highland 9 Year Old 2010 (Master of Malt)

SmokySweetFruitySpicyWoodyFloral

Quick verdict

Secret Highland 9 Year Old 2010 (Master of Malt) is rated higher (5.00 vs 4.47).

Secret Highland 9 Year Old 2010 (Master of Malt) is better value at £30 vs £42.

For beginners: Cardhu 12 Year Old is more approachable (75/100 beginner score).

Cardhu 12 Year Old

Pros

  • +Great entry point for new whisky drinkers
  • +Longer maturation (12 vs 9 years)
  • +More widely reviewed by the community

Cons

  • More expensive (£41.5 vs £29.95)
  • Lower community rating (4.5 vs 5.0)

Secret Highland 9 Year Old 2010 (Master of Malt)

Pros

  • +Great entry point for new whisky drinkers
  • +Higher community rating (5.0/5)
  • +More affordable (£29.95 vs £41.5)

Cons

  • Niche style — may not suit all palates

Who should buy Cardhu?

Cardhu 12 Year Old suits whisky enthusiasts looking for a well-rounded, complex dram. It rewards those with some experience and an appreciation for Speyside character.

Who should buy Secret?

Secret Highland 9 Year Old 2010 (Master of Malt) suits whisky enthusiasts looking for a well-rounded, complex dram. It rewards those with some experience and an appreciation for Single Malt character.

Tasting notes

Both taste of

HoneyVanillaToastedMalt ExtractFresh Fruit

Explore more