Linkwood 12 Year Old 2008 (cask 300865) - Folk (Fable Whisky) vs Clynelish 19 Year Old 1995 (cask 908605) - The Octave (Duncan Taylor)

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

Linkwood 12 Year Old 2008 (cask 300865) - Folk (Fable Whisky)Clynelish 19 Year Old 1995 (cask 908605) - The Octave (Duncan Taylor)
DistilleryLinkwoodClynelish
RegionSpeysideHighland
CountryScotlandScotland
TypeSingle MaltSingle Malt
ABV54.9%54.8%
Age12 yr19 yr
Price£82.95£105.85
Rating5.00/55.00/5

Linkwood 12 Year Old 2008 (cask 300865) - Folk (Fable Whisky)

Smoke0/100
Sweetness59/100
Beginner50/100
Value60/100

Clynelish 19 Year Old 1995 (cask 908605) - The Octave (Duncan Taylor)

Smoke0/100
Sweetness71/100
Beginner60/100
Value47/100

Linkwood 12 Year Old 2008 (cask 300865) - Folk (Fable Whisky)

SmokySweetFruitySpicyWoodyFloral

Clynelish 19 Year Old 1995 (cask 908605) - The Octave (Duncan Taylor)

SmokySweetFruitySpicyWoodyFloral

Quick verdict

Linkwood 12 Year Old 2008 (cask 300865) - Folk (Fable Whisky) is better value at £83 vs £106.

For beginners: Clynelish 19 Year Old 1995 (cask 908605) - The Octave (Duncan Taylor) is more approachable (60/100 beginner score).

Linkwood 12 Year Old 2008 (cask 300865) - Folk (Fable Whisky)

Pros

  • +Better value for money
  • +More affordable (£82.95 vs £105.85)
  • +More widely reviewed by the community

Cons

  • High ABV (54.9%) — may need water

Clynelish 19 Year Old 1995 (cask 908605) - The Octave (Duncan Taylor)

Pros

  • +Approachable and beginner-friendly sweetness
  • +Longer maturation (19 vs 12 years)
  • +Vibrant, fresh fruit character

Cons

  • High ABV (54.8%) — may need water
  • More expensive (£105.85 vs £82.95)

Who should buy Linkwood?

Linkwood 12 Year Old 2008 (cask 300865) - Folk (Fable Whisky) 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.

Who should buy Clynelish?

Clynelish 19 Year Old 1995 (cask 908605) - The Octave (Duncan Taylor) 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

HoneyVanilla

Only Linkwood 12 Year Old 2008 (cask 300865) - Folk (Fable Whisky)

Malt ExtractToastedFresh Fruit

Only Clynelish 19 Year Old 1995 (cask 908605) - The Octave (Duncan Taylor)

SherriedDried FruitOld Wood

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