Speyside & Lowland - Double Barrel (Douglas Laing) (Old Bottling) vs Master of Malt 12 Year Old Orkney

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

Speyside & Lowland - Double Barrel (Douglas Laing) (Old Bottling)Master of Malt 12 Year Old Orkney
DistilleryDouglas LaingMaster of Malt
Region
CountryScotlandScotland
TypeBlended MaltBlended Malt
ABV46%40%
AgeNAS12 yr
Price£36.52£34.95
Rating5.00/55.00/5

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

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

Master of Malt 12 Year Old Orkney

Smoke64/100
Sweetness68/100
Beginner90/100
Value100/100

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

SmokySweetFruitySpicyWoodyFloral

Master of Malt 12 Year Old Orkney

SmokySweetFruitySpicyWoodyFloral

Quick verdict

Master of Malt 12 Year Old Orkney is better value at £35 vs £37.

For beginners: Master of Malt 12 Year Old Orkney is more approachable (90/100 beginner score).

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

Pros

  • +Great entry point for new whisky drinkers
  • +More widely reviewed by the community

Cons

  • More expensive (£36.52 vs £34.95)
  • Lacks smoke character compared to the alternative

Master of Malt 12 Year Old Orkney

Pros

  • +Balanced smoky character without being overwhelming
  • +Approachable and beginner-friendly sweetness
  • +Great entry point for new whisky drinkers
  • +More affordable (£34.95 vs £36.52)

Cons

  • Niche style — may not suit all palates

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 Master?

Master of Malt 12 Year Old Orkney 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.

Tasting notes

Both taste of

Malt Extract

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

VanillaFresh Fruit

Only Master of Malt 12 Year Old Orkney

HoneySmokey

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