SMWS 117.1 (Cooley) / 1989 / 12 Year Old Irish Malt Whiskey vs Talisker 30 Year Old

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

SMWS 117.1 (Cooley) / 1989 / 12 Year Old Irish Malt WhiskeyTalisker 30 Year Old
DistilleryCooleyTalisker
RegionIsland
CountryUnited KingdomScotland
TypeIrishSingle Malt
ABV40%48.5%
AgeNAS30 yr
Price£1250£829.95
Rating5.00/5

SMWS 117.1 (Cooley) / 1989 / 12 Year Old Irish Malt Whiskey

Smoke0/100
Sweetness30/100
Beginner65/100
Value0/100

Talisker 30 Year Old

Smoke64/100
Sweetness40/100
Beginner45/100
Value6/100

SMWS 117.1 (Cooley) / 1989 / 12 Year Old Irish Malt Whiskey

SmokySweetFruitySpicyWoodyFloral

Talisker 30 Year Old

SmokySweetFruitySpicyWoodyFloral

Quick verdict

Talisker 30 Year Old is rated higher (5.00 vs 0.00).

Talisker 30 Year Old is better value at £830 vs £1250.

For beginners: SMWS 117.1 (Cooley) / 1989 / 12 Year Old Irish Malt Whiskey is more approachable (65/100 beginner score).

SMWS 117.1 (Cooley) / 1989 / 12 Year Old Irish Malt Whiskey

Pros

  • +Vibrant, fresh fruit character

Cons

  • More expensive (£1250 vs £829.95)
  • Lower community rating (0.0 vs 5.0)
  • Lacks smoke character compared to the alternative

Talisker 30 Year Old

Pros

  • +Balanced smoky character without being overwhelming
  • +Better value for money
  • +Higher community rating (5.0/5)
  • +More affordable (£829.95 vs £1250)

Cons

  • Niche style — may not suit all palates

Who should buy SMWS?

SMWS 117.1 (Cooley) / 1989 / 12 Year Old Irish Malt Whiskey suits whisky enthusiasts looking for a well-rounded, complex dram. It rewards those with some experience and an appreciation for Irish character.

Who should buy Talisker?

Talisker 30 Year Old suits whisky enthusiasts looking for a well-rounded, complex dram. It rewards those with some experience and an appreciation for Island character.

Tasting notes

Both taste of

Fresh Fruit

Only SMWS 117.1 (Cooley) / 1989 / 12 Year Old Irish Malt Whiskey

CitricYeastyFragant

Only Talisker 30 Year Old

SmokeyOld WoodOilyLeathery

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