Darkness! Ardbeg 23 Year Old Oloroso Cask Finish vs Ben Nevis 26 Year Old (That Boutique-y Whisky Company)

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

Darkness! Ardbeg 23 Year Old Oloroso Cask FinishBen Nevis 26 Year Old (That Boutique-y Whisky Company)
DistilleryArdbegBen Nevis
RegionIslayHighland
CountryScotlandScotland
TypeSingle MaltSingle Malt
ABV49.1%47.8%
Age23 yr26 yr
Price£291.95£379.95
Rating5.00/5

Darkness! Ardbeg 23 Year Old Oloroso Cask Finish

Smoke64/100
Sweetness55/100
Beginner45/100
Value17/100

Ben Nevis 26 Year Old (That Boutique-y Whisky Company)

Smoke0/100
Sweetness50/100
Beginner55/100
Value0/100

Darkness! Ardbeg 23 Year Old Oloroso Cask Finish

SmokySweetFruitySpicyWoodyFloral

Ben Nevis 26 Year Old (That Boutique-y Whisky Company)

SmokySweetFruitySpicyWoodyFloral

Quick verdict

Darkness! Ardbeg 23 Year Old Oloroso Cask Finish is rated higher (5.00 vs 0.00).

Darkness! Ardbeg 23 Year Old Oloroso Cask Finish is better value at £292 vs £380.

For beginners: Ben Nevis 26 Year Old (That Boutique-y Whisky Company) is more approachable (55/100 beginner score).

Darkness! Ardbeg 23 Year Old Oloroso Cask Finish

Pros

  • +Balanced smoky character without being overwhelming
  • +Better value for money
  • +Higher community rating (5.0/5)
  • +More affordable (£291.95 vs £379.95)

Cons

  • Niche style — may not suit all palates

Ben Nevis 26 Year Old (That Boutique-y Whisky Company)

Pros

  • +Longer maturation (26 vs 23 years)

Cons

  • More expensive (£379.95 vs £291.95)
  • Lower community rating (0.0 vs 5.0)
  • Lacks smoke character compared to the alternative

Who should buy Darkness!?

Darkness! Ardbeg 23 Year Old Oloroso Cask Finish suits whisky enthusiasts looking for a well-rounded, complex dram. It rewards those with some experience and an appreciation for Islay character.

Who should buy Ben?

Ben Nevis 26 Year Old (That Boutique-y Whisky Company) suits whisky enthusiasts looking for a well-rounded, complex dram. It rewards those with some experience and an appreciation for Highland character.

Tasting notes

Both taste of

Old Wood

Only Darkness! Ardbeg 23 Year Old Oloroso Cask Finish

SmokeySherriedCooked FruitLeathery

Only Ben Nevis 26 Year Old (That Boutique-y Whisky Company)

VanillaToastedMalt ExtractNutty

Explore more