Royal Lochnagar 12 Year Old 1998 (cask 6374) - Provenance (Douglas Laing) vs Big Peat at Christmas 2021

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

Royal Lochnagar 12 Year Old 1998 (cask 6374) - Provenance (Douglas Laing)Big Peat at Christmas 2021
DistilleryLochnagarBig Peat
RegionHighlandIslay
CountryScotlandScotland
TypeSingle MaltBlended Malt
ABV46%52.8%
Age12 yrNAS
Price£45.34£47.9
Rating5.00/5

Royal Lochnagar 12 Year Old 1998 (cask 6374) - Provenance (Douglas Laing)

Smoke0/100
Sweetness59/100
Beginner65/100
Value0/100

Big Peat at Christmas 2021

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

Royal Lochnagar 12 Year Old 1998 (cask 6374) - Provenance (Douglas Laing)

SmokySweetFruitySpicyWoodyFloral

Big Peat at Christmas 2021

SmokySweetFruitySpicyWoodyFloral

Quick verdict

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

Royal Lochnagar 12 Year Old 1998 (cask 6374) - Provenance (Douglas Laing) is better value at £45 vs £48.

For beginners: Royal Lochnagar 12 Year Old 1998 (cask 6374) - Provenance (Douglas Laing) is more approachable (65/100 beginner score).

Royal Lochnagar 12 Year Old 1998 (cask 6374) - Provenance (Douglas Laing)

Pros

  • +More affordable (£45.34 vs £47.9)

Cons

  • 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 widely reviewed by the community

Cons

  • High ABV (52.8%) — may need water
  • More expensive (£47.9 vs £45.34)
  • Dry and austere — not for those who prefer sweeter drams

Who should buy Royal?

Royal Lochnagar 12 Year Old 1998 (cask 6374) - Provenance (Douglas Laing) suits whisky enthusiasts looking for a well-rounded, complex dram. It rewards those with some experience and an appreciation for Highland character.

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 Royal Lochnagar 12 Year Old 1998 (cask 6374) - Provenance (Douglas Laing)

HoneyMalt ExtractVanillaToastedFresh Fruit

Only Big Peat at Christmas 2021

SmokeyMedicinalCoal-gasOily

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