Famous Grouse Highland Decanter vs Ardmore 13 Year Old 2008 (cask 1900001) - Benchmark (Murray McDavid)

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

Famous Grouse Highland DecanterArdmore 13 Year Old 2008 (cask 1900001) - Benchmark (Murray McDavid)
DistilleryFamous GrouseArdmore
RegionOther ScotchHighland
CountryScotlandScotland
TypeBlendedSingle Malt
ABV40%57.4%
AgeNAS13 yr
Price£99.99£89.9
Rating5.00/5

Famous Grouse Highland Decanter

Smoke0/100
Sweetness64/100
Beginner75/100
Value50/100

Ardmore 13 Year Old 2008 (cask 1900001) - Benchmark (Murray McDavid)

Smoke64/100
Sweetness45/100
Beginner30/100
Value0/100

Famous Grouse Highland Decanter

SmokySweetFruitySpicyWoodyFloral

Ardmore 13 Year Old 2008 (cask 1900001) - Benchmark (Murray McDavid)

SmokySweetFruitySpicyWoodyFloral

Quick verdict

Famous Grouse Highland Decanter is rated higher (5.00 vs 0.00).

Ardmore 13 Year Old 2008 (cask 1900001) - Benchmark (Murray McDavid) is better value at £90 vs £100.

For beginners: Famous Grouse Highland Decanter is more approachable (75/100 beginner score).

Famous Grouse Highland Decanter

Pros

  • +Great entry point for new whisky drinkers
  • +Better value for money
  • +Higher community rating (5.0/5)
  • +More widely reviewed by the community

Cons

  • More expensive (£99.99 vs £89.9)
  • Lacks smoke character compared to the alternative

Ardmore 13 Year Old 2008 (cask 1900001) - Benchmark (Murray McDavid)

Pros

  • +Balanced smoky character without being overwhelming
  • +More affordable (£89.9 vs £99.99)

Cons

  • High ABV (57.4%) — may need water
  • Lower community rating (0.0 vs 5.0)

Who should buy Famous?

Famous Grouse Highland Decanter is an ideal first whisky — sweet, approachable, and widely available. It's a great gift and a safe choice for anyone new to whisky or who prefers lighter, friendlier drams.

Who should buy Ardmore?

Ardmore 13 Year Old 2008 (cask 1900001) - Benchmark (Murray McDavid) 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

Malt ExtractToasted

Only Famous Grouse Highland Decanter

VanillaHoney

Only Ardmore 13 Year Old 2008 (cask 1900001) - Benchmark (Murray McDavid)

SmokeyCooked MashChocolate

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