Aberlour 17 Year Old 1990 - Old Malt Cask (Douglas Laing) vs Big Peat at Christmas 2021

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

Aberlour 17 Year Old 1990 - Old Malt Cask (Douglas Laing)Big Peat at Christmas 2021
DistilleryAberlourBig Peat
RegionSpeysideIslay
CountryScotlandScotland
TypeSingle MaltBlended Malt
ABV50%52.8%
Age17 yrNAS
Price£59.16£47.9
Rating5.00/5

Aberlour 17 Year Old 1990 - Old Malt Cask (Douglas Laing)

Smoke0/100
Sweetness66/100
Beginner75/100
Value0/100

Big Peat at Christmas 2021

Smoke66/100
Sweetness0/100
Beginner35/100
Value100/100

Aberlour 17 Year Old 1990 - Old Malt Cask (Douglas Laing)

SmokySweetFruitySpicyWoodyFloral

Big Peat at Christmas 2021

SmokySweetFruitySpicyWoodyFloral

Quick verdict

Big Peat at Christmas 2021 is rated higher (5.00 vs 0.00).

Big Peat at Christmas 2021 is better value at £48 vs £59.

For beginners: Aberlour 17 Year Old 1990 - Old Malt Cask (Douglas Laing) is more approachable (75/100 beginner score).

Aberlour 17 Year Old 1990 - Old Malt Cask (Douglas Laing)

Pros

  • +Approachable and beginner-friendly sweetness
  • +Great entry point for new whisky drinkers

Cons

  • More expensive (£59.16 vs £47.9)
  • Lower community rating (0.0 vs 5.0)
  • Lacks smoke character compared to the alternative

Big Peat at Christmas 2021

Pros

  • +Balanced smoky character without being overwhelming
  • +Better value for money
  • +Higher community rating (5.0/5)
  • +More affordable (£47.9 vs £59.16)

Cons

  • High ABV (52.8%) — may need water
  • Dry and austere — not for those who prefer sweeter drams

Who should buy Aberlour?

Aberlour 17 Year Old 1990 - Old Malt Cask (Douglas Laing) is an ideal first whisky — sweet, approachable, and widely available. It's a great gift and a safe choice for anyone new to whisky or who prefers lighter, friendlier drams.

Who should buy Big?

Big Peat at Christmas 2021 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 Aberlour 17 Year Old 1990 - Old Malt Cask (Douglas Laing)

SherriedVanillaHoneyToastedOld Wood

Only Big Peat at Christmas 2021

SmokeyMedicinalCoal-gasOily

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