Benriach 23 Year Old 1996 (cask 16005) - Old Malt Cask (Hunter Laing) vs Glen Grant 20 Year Old 1992 (cask 446106) - The Octave (Duncan Taylor)

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

Benriach 23 Year Old 1996 (cask 16005) - Old Malt Cask (Hunter Laing)Glen Grant 20 Year Old 1992 (cask 446106) - The Octave (Duncan Taylor)
DistilleryBenriachGlen Grant
RegionSpeysideSpeyside
CountryScotlandScotland
TypeSingle MaltSingle Malt
ABV47.6%52.5%
Age23 yr20 yr
Price£100.95£106.37
Rating5.00/5

Benriach 23 Year Old 1996 (cask 16005) - Old Malt Cask (Hunter Laing)

Smoke0/100
Sweetness64/100
Beginner55/100
Value0/100

Glen Grant 20 Year Old 1992 (cask 446106) - The Octave (Duncan Taylor)

Smoke0/100
Sweetness63/100
Beginner45/100
Value47/100

Benriach 23 Year Old 1996 (cask 16005) - Old Malt Cask (Hunter Laing)

SmokySweetFruitySpicyWoodyFloral

Glen Grant 20 Year Old 1992 (cask 446106) - The Octave (Duncan Taylor)

SmokySweetFruitySpicyWoodyFloral

Quick verdict

Glen Grant 20 Year Old 1992 (cask 446106) - The Octave (Duncan Taylor) is rated higher (5.00 vs 0.00).

Benriach 23 Year Old 1996 (cask 16005) - Old Malt Cask (Hunter Laing) is better value at £101 vs £106.

For beginners: Benriach 23 Year Old 1996 (cask 16005) - Old Malt Cask (Hunter Laing) is more approachable (55/100 beginner score).

Benriach 23 Year Old 1996 (cask 16005) - Old Malt Cask (Hunter Laing)

Pros

  • +More affordable (£100.95 vs £106.37)
  • +Longer maturation (23 vs 20 years)
  • +Vibrant, fresh fruit character
  • +Rich oak and wood spice complexity

Cons

  • Lower community rating (0.0 vs 5.0)

Glen Grant 20 Year Old 1992 (cask 446106) - The Octave (Duncan Taylor)

Pros

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

Cons

  • High ABV (52.5%) — may need water
  • More expensive (£106.37 vs £100.95)

Who should buy Benriach?

Benriach 23 Year Old 1996 (cask 16005) - Old Malt Cask (Hunter Laing) suits whisky enthusiasts looking for a well-rounded, complex dram. It rewards those with some experience and an appreciation for Speyside character.

Who should buy Glen?

Glen Grant 20 Year Old 1992 (cask 446106) - 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

HoneyVanillaToasted

Only Benriach 23 Year Old 1996 (cask 16005) - Old Malt Cask (Hunter Laing)

Old WoodDried Fruit

Only Glen Grant 20 Year Old 1992 (cask 446106) - The Octave (Duncan Taylor)

SherriedCooked Fruit

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