The Speyside 12 Year Old vs The Big Smoke 46

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

The Speyside 12 Year OldThe Big Smoke 46
DistillerySpeysideDuncan Taylor
RegionSpeyside
CountryScotlandScotland
TypeSingle MaltBlended Malt
ABV40%46%
Age12 yr10 yr
Price£28.67£34.3
Rating4.93/55.00/5

The Speyside 12 Year Old

Smoke0/100
Sweetness59/100
Beginner85/100
Value100/100

The Big Smoke 46

Smoke64/100
Sweetness0/100
Beginner60/100
Value100/100

The Speyside 12 Year Old

SmokySweetFruitySpicyWoodyFloral

The Big Smoke 46

SmokySweetFruitySpicyWoodyFloral

Quick verdict

The Big Smoke 46 is rated higher (5.00 vs 4.93).

The Speyside 12 Year Old is better value at £29 vs £34.

For beginners: The Speyside 12 Year Old is more approachable (85/100 beginner score).

The Speyside 12 Year Old

Pros

  • +Great entry point for new whisky drinkers
  • +More affordable (£28.67 vs £34.3)
  • +Longer maturation (12 vs 10 years)
  • +More widely reviewed by the community

Cons

  • Lower community rating (4.9 vs 5.0)
  • Lacks smoke character compared to the alternative

The Big Smoke 46

Pros

  • +Balanced smoky character without being overwhelming
  • +Higher community rating (5.0/5)

Cons

  • More expensive (£34.3 vs £28.67)
  • Dry and austere — not for those who prefer sweeter drams

Who should buy The?

The Speyside 12 Year Old 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 The?

The Big Smoke 46 suits whisky enthusiasts looking for a well-rounded, complex dram. It rewards those with some experience and an appreciation for Blended Malt character.

Tasting notes

Only The Speyside 12 Year Old

HoneyMalt ExtractFresh FruitVanillaToasted

Only The Big Smoke 46

SmokeyOily

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