Glen Spey 21 Year Old (Special Release 2010) vs North British 26 Year Old 1989 (cask 11372) - The Sovereign (Hunter Laing)

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

Glen Spey 21 Year Old (Special Release 2010)North British 26 Year Old 1989 (cask 11372) - The Sovereign (Hunter Laing)
DistilleryGlen SpeyNorth British
RegionSpeysideLowland
CountryScotlandScotland
TypeSingle MaltGrain
ABV50.4%63.1%
Age21 yr26 yr
Price£133.99£95.96
Rating5.00/5

Glen Spey 21 Year Old (Special Release 2010)

Smoke0/100
Sweetness72/100
Beginner60/100
Value37/100

North British 26 Year Old 1989 (cask 11372) - The Sovereign (Hunter Laing)

Smoke0/100
Sweetness75/100
Beginner55/100
Value0/100

Glen Spey 21 Year Old (Special Release 2010)

SmokySweetFruitySpicyWoodyFloral

North British 26 Year Old 1989 (cask 11372) - The Sovereign (Hunter Laing)

SmokySweetFruitySpicyWoodyFloral

Quick verdict

Glen Spey 21 Year Old (Special Release 2010) is rated higher (5.00 vs 0.00).

North British 26 Year Old 1989 (cask 11372) - The Sovereign (Hunter Laing) is better value at £96 vs £134.

For beginners: Glen Spey 21 Year Old (Special Release 2010) is more approachable (60/100 beginner score).

Glen Spey 21 Year Old (Special Release 2010)

Pros

  • +Approachable and beginner-friendly sweetness
  • +Better value for money
  • +Higher community rating (5.0/5)
  • +More widely reviewed by the community

Cons

  • High ABV (50.4%) — may need water
  • More expensive (£133.99 vs £95.96)

North British 26 Year Old 1989 (cask 11372) - The Sovereign (Hunter Laing)

Pros

  • +Approachable and beginner-friendly sweetness
  • +More affordable (£95.96 vs £133.99)
  • +Longer maturation (26 vs 21 years)
  • +Rich oak and wood spice complexity

Cons

  • High ABV (63.1%) — may need water
  • Lower community rating (0.0 vs 5.0)

Who should buy Glen?

Glen Spey 21 Year Old (Special Release 2010) suits those who enjoy sweet, honeyed, or fruity whiskies. It's accessible for beginners and crowd-pleasing enough for gifts. Fans of approachable Speyside or Irish whiskey will love it.

Who should buy North?

North British 26 Year Old 1989 (cask 11372) - The Sovereign (Hunter Laing) suits those who enjoy sweet, honeyed, or fruity whiskies. It's accessible for beginners and crowd-pleasing enough for gifts. Fans of approachable Speyside or Irish whiskey will love it.

Tasting notes

Both taste of

VanillaHoneyOld Wood

Only Glen Spey 21 Year Old (Special Release 2010)

Fresh FruitCitric

Only North British 26 Year Old 1989 (cask 11372) - The Sovereign (Hunter Laing)

Malt Extract

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