Secret Irish Distillery 8 Year Old 2011 (Master of Malt) vs Big Peat at Christmas 2021

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

Secret Irish Distillery 8 Year Old 2011 (Master of Malt)Big Peat at Christmas 2021
DistilleryMaster of MaltBig Peat
RegionIslay
CountryIrelandScotland
TypeGrainBlended Malt
ABV60%52.8%
Age8 yrNAS
Price£34.95£47.9
Rating5.00/5

Secret Irish Distillery 8 Year Old 2011 (Master of Malt)

Smoke0/100
Sweetness59/100
Beginner50/100
Value0/100

Big Peat at Christmas 2021

Smoke66/100
Sweetness0/100
Beginner35/100
Value100/100

Secret Irish Distillery 8 Year Old 2011 (Master of Malt)

SmokySweetFruitySpicyWoodyFloral

Big Peat at Christmas 2021

SmokySweetFruitySpicyWoodyFloral

Quick verdict

Big Peat at Christmas 2021 is rated higher (5.00 vs 0.00).

Secret Irish Distillery 8 Year Old 2011 (Master of Malt) is better value at £35 vs £48.

For beginners: Secret Irish Distillery 8 Year Old 2011 (Master of Malt) is more approachable (50/100 beginner score).

Secret Irish Distillery 8 Year Old 2011 (Master of Malt)

Pros

  • +More affordable (£34.95 vs £47.9)

Cons

  • High ABV (60%) — may need water
  • Lower community rating (0.0 vs 5.0)
  • Lacks smoke character compared to the alternative

Big Peat at Christmas 2021

Pros

  • +Balanced smoky character without being overwhelming
  • +Better value for money
  • +Higher community rating (5.0/5)
  • +More widely reviewed by the community

Cons

  • High ABV (52.8%) — may need water
  • More expensive (£47.9 vs £34.95)
  • Dry and austere — not for those who prefer sweeter drams

Who should buy Secret?

Secret Irish Distillery 8 Year Old 2011 (Master of Malt) 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.

Who should buy Big?

Big Peat at Christmas 2021 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

Only Secret Irish Distillery 8 Year Old 2011 (Master of Malt)

Malt ExtractVanillaHoneyToastedFresh Fruit

Only Big Peat at Christmas 2021

SmokeyMedicinalCoal-gasOily

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