North of Scotland 37 Year Old 1972 - The Clan Denny (Douglas Laing) vs Arran 20 Year Old 1996 (cask 85) (Silver Seal)

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

North of Scotland 37 Year Old 1972 - The Clan Denny (Douglas Laing)Arran 20 Year Old 1996 (cask 85) (Silver Seal)
DistilleryNorth of ScotlandArran
RegionIsland
CountryScotlandScotland
TypeGrainSingle Malt
ABV50.6%51.2%
Age37 yr20 yr
Price£103.47£167.81
Rating5.00/5

North of Scotland 37 Year Old 1972 - The Clan Denny (Douglas Laing)

Smoke0/100
Sweetness68/100
Beginner60/100
Value48/100

Arran 20 Year Old 1996 (cask 85) (Silver Seal)

Smoke0/100
Sweetness48/100
Beginner45/100
Value0/100

North of Scotland 37 Year Old 1972 - The Clan Denny (Douglas Laing)

SmokySweetFruitySpicyWoodyFloral

Arran 20 Year Old 1996 (cask 85) (Silver Seal)

SmokySweetFruitySpicyWoodyFloral

Quick verdict

North of Scotland 37 Year Old 1972 - The Clan Denny (Douglas Laing) is rated higher (5.00 vs 0.00).

North of Scotland 37 Year Old 1972 - The Clan Denny (Douglas Laing) is better value at £103 vs £168.

For beginners: North of Scotland 37 Year Old 1972 - The Clan Denny (Douglas Laing) is more approachable (60/100 beginner score).

North of Scotland 37 Year Old 1972 - The Clan Denny (Douglas Laing)

Pros

  • +Approachable and beginner-friendly sweetness
  • +Better value for money
  • +Higher community rating (5.0/5)
  • +More affordable (£103.47 vs £167.81)

Cons

  • High ABV (50.6%) — may need water

Arran 20 Year Old 1996 (cask 85) (Silver Seal)

Pros

  • +Vibrant, fresh fruit character

Cons

  • High ABV (51.2%) — may need water
  • More expensive (£167.81 vs £103.47)
  • Lower community rating (0.0 vs 5.0)

Who should buy North?

North of Scotland 37 Year Old 1972 - The Clan Denny (Douglas 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.

Who should buy Arran?

Arran 20 Year Old 1996 (cask 85) (Silver Seal) 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

Old WoodNutty

Only North of Scotland 37 Year Old 1972 - The Clan Denny (Douglas Laing)

OilyVanillaHoney

Only Arran 20 Year Old 1996 (cask 85) (Silver Seal)

SherriedDried FruitCooked Fruit

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