Strathisla 30 Year Old Gordon and MacPhail vs Aberlour 23 Year Old Small Batch (WM Cadenhead)

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

Strathisla 30 Year Old Gordon and MacPhailAberlour 23 Year Old Small Batch (WM Cadenhead)
DistilleryStrathislaAberlour
RegionSpeysideSpeyside
CountryScotlandScotland
TypeSingle MaltSingle Malt
ABV43%54.9%
Age30 yr23 yr
Price£87.07£79.71
Rating5.00/5

Strathisla 30 Year Old Gordon and MacPhail

Smoke0/100
Sweetness56/100
Beginner75/100
Value57/100

Aberlour 23 Year Old Small Batch (WM Cadenhead)

Smoke0/100
Sweetness64/100
Beginner50/100
Value0/100

Strathisla 30 Year Old Gordon and MacPhail

SmokySweetFruitySpicyWoodyFloral

Aberlour 23 Year Old Small Batch (WM Cadenhead)

SmokySweetFruitySpicyWoodyFloral

Quick verdict

Strathisla 30 Year Old Gordon and MacPhail is rated higher (5.00 vs 0.00).

Aberlour 23 Year Old Small Batch (WM Cadenhead) is better value at £80 vs £87.

For beginners: Strathisla 30 Year Old Gordon and MacPhail is more approachable (75/100 beginner score).

Strathisla 30 Year Old Gordon and MacPhail

Pros

  • +Great entry point for new whisky drinkers
  • +Better value for money
  • +Higher community rating (5.0/5)
  • +Longer maturation (30 vs 23 years)

Cons

  • More expensive (£87.07 vs £79.71)

Aberlour 23 Year Old Small Batch (WM Cadenhead)

Pros

  • +More affordable (£79.71 vs £87.07)

Cons

  • High ABV (54.9%) — may need water
  • Lower community rating (0.0 vs 5.0)

Who should buy Strathisla?

Strathisla 30 Year Old Gordon and MacPhail 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 Aberlour?

Aberlour 23 Year Old Small Batch (WM Cadenhead) 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

Honey

Only Strathisla 30 Year Old Gordon and MacPhail

SherriedOld WoodDried FruitNutty

Only Aberlour 23 Year Old Small Batch (WM Cadenhead)

Malt ExtractVanillaToasted

Where to buy

Strathisla 30 Year Old Gordon and MacPhail

Aberlour 23 Year Old Small Batch (WM Cadenhead)

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