Linkwood 21 Year Old 1989 - Old Malt Cask (Douglas Laing) vs Deanston 9 Year Old 2008 - Bordeaux Red Wine Cask Matured

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

Linkwood 21 Year Old 1989 - Old Malt Cask (Douglas Laing)Deanston 9 Year Old 2008 - Bordeaux Red Wine Cask Matured
DistilleryLinkwoodDeanston
RegionSpeysideHighland
CountryScotlandScotland
TypeSingle MaltSingle Malt
ABV50%58.7%
Age21 yr9 yr
Price£77.26£49.96
Rating5.00/5

Linkwood 21 Year Old 1989 - Old Malt Cask (Douglas Laing)

Smoke0/100
Sweetness54/100
Beginner60/100
Value0/100

Deanston 9 Year Old 2008 - Bordeaux Red Wine Cask Matured

Smoke0/100
Sweetness60/100
Beginner40/100
Value100/100

Linkwood 21 Year Old 1989 - Old Malt Cask (Douglas Laing)

SmokySweetFruitySpicyWoodyFloral

Deanston 9 Year Old 2008 - Bordeaux Red Wine Cask Matured

SmokySweetFruitySpicyWoodyFloral

Quick verdict

Deanston 9 Year Old 2008 - Bordeaux Red Wine Cask Matured is rated higher (5.00 vs 0.00).

Deanston 9 Year Old 2008 - Bordeaux Red Wine Cask Matured is better value at £50 vs £77.

For beginners: Linkwood 21 Year Old 1989 - Old Malt Cask (Douglas Laing) is more approachable (60/100 beginner score).

Linkwood 21 Year Old 1989 - Old Malt Cask (Douglas Laing)

Pros

  • +Longer maturation (21 vs 9 years)
  • +Rich oak and wood spice complexity

Cons

  • More expensive (£77.26 vs £49.96)
  • Lower community rating (0.0 vs 5.0)

Deanston 9 Year Old 2008 - Bordeaux Red Wine Cask Matured

Pros

  • +Better value for money
  • +Higher community rating (5.0/5)
  • +More affordable (£49.96 vs £77.26)
  • +More widely reviewed by the community

Cons

  • High ABV (58.7%) — may need water

Who should buy Linkwood?

Linkwood 21 Year Old 1989 - Old Malt Cask (Douglas Laing) 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 Deanston?

Deanston 9 Year Old 2008 - Bordeaux Red Wine Cask Matured is for enthusiasts who appreciate cask-strength intensity. Best enjoyed with a few drops of water to open up the flavours. Not ideal for casual drinking or beginners.

Tasting notes

Only Linkwood 21 Year Old 1989 - Old Malt Cask (Douglas Laing)

HoneyDried FruitOld WoodToastedMalt Extract

Only Deanston 9 Year Old 2008 - Bordeaux Red Wine Cask Matured

Cooked FruitFresh FruitVanillaSherried

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