Caol Ila 12 Year Old 1999 (Signatory) vs Speyburn 7 Year Old (That Boutique-y Whisky Company)

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

Caol Ila 12 Year Old 1999 (Signatory)Speyburn 7 Year Old (That Boutique-y Whisky Company)
DistilleryCaol IlaSpeyburn
RegionIslaySpeyside
CountryScotlandScotland
TypeSingle MaltSingle Malt
ABV43%49.5%
Age12 yr7 yr
Price£39.55£46.95
Rating5.00/5

Caol Ila 12 Year Old 1999 (Signatory)

Smoke68/100
Sweetness30/100
Beginner70/100
Value0/100

Speyburn 7 Year Old (That Boutique-y Whisky Company)

Smoke0/100
Sweetness59/100
Beginner60/100
Value100/100

Caol Ila 12 Year Old 1999 (Signatory)

SmokySweetFruitySpicyWoodyFloral

Speyburn 7 Year Old (That Boutique-y Whisky Company)

SmokySweetFruitySpicyWoodyFloral

Quick verdict

Speyburn 7 Year Old (That Boutique-y Whisky Company) is rated higher (5.00 vs 0.00).

Caol Ila 12 Year Old 1999 (Signatory) is better value at £40 vs £47.

For beginners: Caol Ila 12 Year Old 1999 (Signatory) is more approachable (70/100 beginner score).

Caol Ila 12 Year Old 1999 (Signatory)

Pros

  • +Balanced smoky character without being overwhelming
  • +Great entry point for new whisky drinkers
  • +More affordable (£39.55 vs £46.95)
  • +Longer maturation (12 vs 7 years)

Cons

  • Lower community rating (0.0 vs 5.0)

Speyburn 7 Year Old (That Boutique-y Whisky Company)

Pros

  • +Better value for money
  • +Higher community rating (5.0/5)
  • +More widely reviewed by the community

Cons

  • More expensive (£46.95 vs £39.55)
  • Lacks smoke character compared to the alternative

Who should buy Caol?

Caol Ila 12 Year Old 1999 (Signatory) 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 Speyburn?

Speyburn 7 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 Speyside character.

Tasting notes

Both taste of

Toasted

Only Caol Ila 12 Year Old 1999 (Signatory)

SmokeyMedicinalOilyLeathery

Only Speyburn 7 Year Old (That Boutique-y Whisky Company)

HoneyMalt ExtractFresh FruitVanilla

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