Mortlach 20 Year Old 1997 (cask 7911318) - The Octave (Duncan Taylor) vs Famous Grouse 12 Year Old - Vintage 1989

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

Mortlach 20 Year Old 1997 (cask 7911318) - The Octave (Duncan Taylor)Famous Grouse 12 Year Old - Vintage 1989
DistilleryMortlachFamous Grouse
RegionSpeysideOther Scotch
CountryScotlandScotland
TypeSingle MaltBlended
ABV48.4%40%
Age20 yr12 yr
Price£229£150
Rating5.00/5

Mortlach 20 Year Old 1997 (cask 7911318) - The Octave (Duncan Taylor)

Smoke0/100
Sweetness48/100
Beginner55/100
Value0/100

Famous Grouse 12 Year Old - Vintage 1989

Smoke0/100
Sweetness63/100
Beginner70/100
Value33/100

Mortlach 20 Year Old 1997 (cask 7911318) - The Octave (Duncan Taylor)

SmokySweetFruitySpicyWoodyFloral

Famous Grouse 12 Year Old - Vintage 1989

SmokySweetFruitySpicyWoodyFloral

Quick verdict

Famous Grouse 12 Year Old - Vintage 1989 is rated higher (5.00 vs 0.00).

Famous Grouse 12 Year Old - Vintage 1989 is better value at £150 vs £229.

For beginners: Famous Grouse 12 Year Old - Vintage 1989 is more approachable (70/100 beginner score).

Mortlach 20 Year Old 1997 (cask 7911318) - The Octave (Duncan Taylor)

Pros

  • +Longer maturation (20 vs 12 years)

Cons

  • More expensive (£229 vs £150)
  • Lower community rating (0.0 vs 5.0)

Famous Grouse 12 Year Old - Vintage 1989

Pros

  • +Great entry point for new whisky drinkers
  • +Better value for money
  • +Higher community rating (5.0/5)
  • +More affordable (£150 vs £229)

Cons

  • Niche style — may not suit all palates

Who should buy Mortlach?

Mortlach 20 Year Old 1997 (cask 7911318) - The Octave (Duncan Taylor) 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 Famous?

Famous Grouse 12 Year Old - Vintage 1989 suits whisky enthusiasts looking for a well-rounded, complex dram. It rewards those with some experience and an appreciation for Other Scotch character.

Tasting notes

Both taste of

ToastedSherriedMalt Extract

Only Mortlach 20 Year Old 1997 (cask 7911318) - The Octave (Duncan Taylor)

Old WoodDried Fruit

Only Famous Grouse 12 Year Old - Vintage 1989

HoneyVanilla

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