Speyside & Lowland - Double Barrel (Douglas Laing) (Old Bottling) vs The English - Smokey

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

Speyside & Lowland - Double Barrel (Douglas Laing) (Old Bottling)The English - Smokey
DistilleryDouglas LaingThe English Distillery
Region
CountryScotlandEngland
TypeBlended MaltSingle Malt
ABV46%43%
AgeNASNAS
Price£36.52£45.5
Rating5.00/53.83/5

Speyside & Lowland - Double Barrel (Douglas Laing) (Old Bottling)

Smoke0/100
Sweetness60/100
Beginner75/100
Value100/100

The English - Smokey

Smoke64/100
Sweetness53/100
Beginner65/100
Value84/100

Speyside & Lowland - Double Barrel (Douglas Laing) (Old Bottling)

SmokySweetFruitySpicyWoodyFloral

The English - Smokey

SmokySweetFruitySpicyWoodyFloral

Quick verdict

Speyside & Lowland - Double Barrel (Douglas Laing) (Old Bottling) is rated higher (5.00 vs 3.83).

Speyside & Lowland - Double Barrel (Douglas Laing) (Old Bottling) is better value at £37 vs £46.

For beginners: Speyside & Lowland - Double Barrel (Douglas Laing) (Old Bottling) is more approachable (75/100 beginner score).

Speyside & Lowland - Double Barrel (Douglas Laing) (Old Bottling)

Pros

  • +Great entry point for new whisky drinkers
  • +Better value for money
  • +Higher community rating (5.0/5)
  • +More affordable (£36.52 vs £45.5)

Cons

  • Lacks smoke character compared to the alternative

The English - Smokey

Pros

  • +Balanced smoky character without being overwhelming
  • +More widely reviewed by the community
  • +Vibrant, fresh fruit character

Cons

  • More expensive (£45.5 vs £36.52)
  • Lower community rating (3.8 vs 5.0)

Who should buy Speyside?

Speyside & Lowland - Double Barrel (Douglas Laing) (Old Bottling) is an ideal first whisky — sweet, approachable, and widely available. It's a great gift and a safe choice for anyone new to whisky or who prefers lighter, friendlier drams.

Who should buy The?

The English - Smokey suits whisky enthusiasts looking for a well-rounded, complex dram. It rewards those with some experience and an appreciation for Single Malt character.

Tasting notes

Both taste of

VanillaFresh Fruit

Only Speyside & Lowland - Double Barrel (Douglas Laing) (Old Bottling)

Malt Extract

Only The English - Smokey

SmokeyToasted

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