Benrinnes 24 Year Old 1988 (cask 2835) - Rare Select (Montgomerie's) vs Balblair 17 Year Old 2008 - Decadent Drams (Decadent Drinks)

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

Benrinnes 24 Year Old 1988 (cask 2835) - Rare Select (Montgomerie's)Balblair 17 Year Old 2008 - Decadent Drams (Decadent Drinks)
DistilleryBenrinnesBalblair
RegionSpeysideHighland
CountryScotlandScotland
TypeSingle MaltSingle Malt
ABV46%56.5%
Age24 yr17 yr
Price£117.35£159.5
Rating5.00/5

Benrinnes 24 Year Old 1988 (cask 2835) - Rare Select (Montgomerie's)

Smoke0/100
Sweetness61/100
Beginner60/100
Value43/100

Balblair 17 Year Old 2008 - Decadent Drams (Decadent Drinks)

Smoke0/100
Sweetness59/100
Beginner35/100
Value0/100

Benrinnes 24 Year Old 1988 (cask 2835) - Rare Select (Montgomerie's)

SmokySweetFruitySpicyWoodyFloral

Balblair 17 Year Old 2008 - Decadent Drams (Decadent Drinks)

SmokySweetFruitySpicyWoodyFloral

Quick verdict

Benrinnes 24 Year Old 1988 (cask 2835) - Rare Select (Montgomerie's) is rated higher (5.00 vs 0.00).

Benrinnes 24 Year Old 1988 (cask 2835) - Rare Select (Montgomerie's) is better value at £117 vs £160.

For beginners: Benrinnes 24 Year Old 1988 (cask 2835) - Rare Select (Montgomerie's) is more approachable (60/100 beginner score).

Benrinnes 24 Year Old 1988 (cask 2835) - Rare Select (Montgomerie's)

Pros

  • +Better value for money
  • +Higher community rating (5.0/5)
  • +More affordable (£117.35 vs £159.5)
  • +Longer maturation (24 vs 17 years)

Cons

  • Niche style — may not suit all palates

Balblair 17 Year Old 2008 - Decadent Drams (Decadent Drinks)

Pros

  • +Vibrant, fresh fruit character

Cons

  • High ABV (56.5%) — may need water
  • More expensive (£159.5 vs £117.35)
  • Lower community rating (0.0 vs 5.0)

Who should buy Benrinnes?

Benrinnes 24 Year Old 1988 (cask 2835) - Rare Select (Montgomerie's) 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 Balblair?

Balblair 17 Year Old 2008 - Decadent Drams (Decadent Drinks) 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

HoneyVanilla

Only Benrinnes 24 Year Old 1988 (cask 2835) - Rare Select (Montgomerie's)

Malt ExtractToastedDried Fruit

Only Balblair 17 Year Old 2008 - Decadent Drams (Decadent Drinks)

Fresh FruitCitricFragant

Where to buy

Benrinnes 24 Year Old 1988 (cask 2835) - Rare Select (Montgomerie's)

Balblair 17 Year Old 2008 - Decadent Drams (Decadent Drinks)

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