Glen Spey 21 Year Old (Special Release 2010) vs Tamdhu 23 Year Old 1989 (cask 8149) - Celebration of the Cask (Càrn Mòr)

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

Glen Spey 21 Year Old (Special Release 2010)Tamdhu 23 Year Old 1989 (cask 8149) - Celebration of the Cask (Càrn Mòr)
DistilleryGlen SpeyTamdhu
RegionSpeysideSpeyside
CountryScotlandScotland
TypeSingle MaltSingle Malt
ABV50.4%54%
Age21 yr23 yr
Price£133.99£99
Rating5.00/5

Glen Spey 21 Year Old (Special Release 2010)

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

Tamdhu 23 Year Old 1989 (cask 8149) - Celebration of the Cask (Càrn Mòr)

Smoke0/100
Sweetness55/100
Beginner50/100
Value0/100

Glen Spey 21 Year Old (Special Release 2010)

SmokySweetFruitySpicyWoodyFloral

Tamdhu 23 Year Old 1989 (cask 8149) - Celebration of the Cask (Càrn Mòr)

SmokySweetFruitySpicyWoodyFloral

Quick verdict

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

Tamdhu 23 Year Old 1989 (cask 8149) - Celebration of the Cask (Càrn Mòr) is better value at £99 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 £99)

Tamdhu 23 Year Old 1989 (cask 8149) - Celebration of the Cask (Càrn Mòr)

Pros

  • +More affordable (£99 vs £133.99)
  • +Longer maturation (23 vs 21 years)
  • +Rich oak and wood spice complexity

Cons

  • High ABV (54%) — 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 Tamdhu?

Tamdhu 23 Year Old 1989 (cask 8149) - Celebration of the Cask (Càrn Mòr) 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

Both taste of

HoneyOld Wood

Only Glen Spey 21 Year Old (Special Release 2010)

Fresh FruitCitricVanilla

Only Tamdhu 23 Year Old 1989 (cask 8149) - Celebration of the Cask (Càrn Mòr)

Malt ExtractToasted

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