BenRiach 15 Year Old 1999 (cask 9150) - Pedro Ximénez Sherry Finish vs Benrinnes 23 Year Old 1997 (cask 9129174) - The Octave (Duncan Taylor)

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

BenRiach 15 Year Old 1999 (cask 9150) - Pedro Ximénez Sherry FinishBenrinnes 23 Year Old 1997 (cask 9129174) - The Octave (Duncan Taylor)
DistilleryBenriachBenrinnes
RegionSpeysideSpeyside
CountryScotlandScotland
TypeSingle MaltSingle Malt
ABV55.4%54.2%
Age15 yr23 yr
Price£299£271.1
Rating5.00/5

BenRiach 15 Year Old 1999 (cask 9150) - Pedro Ximénez Sherry Finish

Smoke0/100
Sweetness71/100
Beginner50/100
Value17/100

Benrinnes 23 Year Old 1997 (cask 9129174) - The Octave (Duncan Taylor)

Smoke0/100
Sweetness43/100
Beginner45/100
Value0/100

BenRiach 15 Year Old 1999 (cask 9150) - Pedro Ximénez Sherry Finish

SmokySweetFruitySpicyWoodyFloral

Benrinnes 23 Year Old 1997 (cask 9129174) - The Octave (Duncan Taylor)

SmokySweetFruitySpicyWoodyFloral

Quick verdict

BenRiach 15 Year Old 1999 (cask 9150) - Pedro Ximénez Sherry Finish is rated higher (5.00 vs 0.00).

Benrinnes 23 Year Old 1997 (cask 9129174) - The Octave (Duncan Taylor) is better value at £271 vs £299.

For beginners: BenRiach 15 Year Old 1999 (cask 9150) - Pedro Ximénez Sherry Finish is more approachable (50/100 beginner score).

BenRiach 15 Year Old 1999 (cask 9150) - Pedro Ximénez Sherry Finish

Pros

  • +Approachable and beginner-friendly sweetness
  • +Better value for money
  • +Higher community rating (5.0/5)
  • +More widely reviewed by the community

Cons

  • High ABV (55.4%) — may need water
  • More expensive (£299 vs £271.1)

Benrinnes 23 Year Old 1997 (cask 9129174) - The Octave (Duncan Taylor)

Pros

  • +More affordable (£271.1 vs £299)
  • +Longer maturation (23 vs 15 years)
  • +Vibrant, fresh fruit character

Cons

  • High ABV (54.2%) — may need water
  • Lower community rating (0.0 vs 5.0)

Who should buy BenRiach?

BenRiach 15 Year Old 1999 (cask 9150) - Pedro Ximénez Sherry Finish 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 Benrinnes?

Benrinnes 23 Year Old 1997 (cask 9129174) - The Octave (Duncan Taylor) 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

SherriedDried FruitOld Wood

Only BenRiach 15 Year Old 1999 (cask 9150) - Pedro Ximénez Sherry Finish

HoneyVanilla

Only Benrinnes 23 Year Old 1997 (cask 9129174) - The Octave (Duncan Taylor)

ToastedNutty

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