Famous Grouse Highland Decanter vs Linkwood 20 Year Old 1997 (cask 12036) - Old Particular (Douglas Laing)
Side-by-side comparison — price, ABV, scores, tasting notes, pros & cons.

Famous Grouse Highland Decanter
Famous Grouse
★ 5.00
£100

Linkwood 20 Year Old 1997 (cask 12036) - Old Particular (Douglas Laing)
Linkwood
£87
| Famous Grouse Highland Decanter | Linkwood 20 Year Old 1997 (cask 12036) - Old Particular (Douglas Laing) | |
|---|---|---|
| Distillery | Famous Grouse | Linkwood |
| Region | Other Scotch | Speyside |
| Country | Scotland | Scotland |
| Type | Blended | Single Malt |
| ABV | 40% | 51.5% |
| Age | NAS | 20 yr |
| Price | £99.99 | £87.28 |
| Rating | 5.00/5 | — |
Famous Grouse Highland Decanter
Linkwood 20 Year Old 1997 (cask 12036) - Old Particular (Douglas Laing)
Famous Grouse Highland Decanter
Linkwood 20 Year Old 1997 (cask 12036) - Old Particular (Douglas Laing)
Quick verdict
Famous Grouse Highland Decanter is rated higher (5.00 vs 0.00).
Linkwood 20 Year Old 1997 (cask 12036) - Old Particular (Douglas Laing) is better value at £87 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 £87.28)
Linkwood 20 Year Old 1997 (cask 12036) - Old Particular (Douglas Laing)
Pros
- +More affordable (£87.28 vs £99.99)
Cons
- −High ABV (51.5%) — 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 Linkwood?
Linkwood 20 Year Old 1997 (cask 12036) - Old Particular (Douglas Laing) 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
Only Famous Grouse Highland Decanter
Only Linkwood 20 Year Old 1997 (cask 12036) - Old Particular (Douglas Laing)