Benrinnes 24 Year Old 1988 (cask 2835) - Rare Select (Montgomerie's) vs Linkwood 15 Year Old 2009 (cask 22605907) - Connoisseurs Choice (Gordon & MacPhail)

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

Benrinnes 24 Year Old 1988 (cask 2835) - Rare Select (Montgomerie's)Linkwood 15 Year Old 2009 (cask 22605907) - Connoisseurs Choice (Gordon & MacPhail)
DistilleryBenrinnesLinkwood
RegionSpeysideSpeyside
CountryScotlandScotland
TypeSingle MaltSingle Malt
ABV46%53.8%
Age24 yr15 yr
Price£117.35£134.5
Rating5.00/5

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

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

Linkwood 15 Year Old 2009 (cask 22605907) - Connoisseurs Choice (Gordon & MacPhail)

Smoke0/100
Sweetness63/100
Beginner45/100
Value0/100

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

SmokySweetFruitySpicyWoodyFloral

Linkwood 15 Year Old 2009 (cask 22605907) - Connoisseurs Choice (Gordon & MacPhail)

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 £135.

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 £134.5)
  • +Longer maturation (24 vs 15 years)

Cons

  • Niche style — may not suit all palates

Linkwood 15 Year Old 2009 (cask 22605907) - Connoisseurs Choice (Gordon & MacPhail)

Pros

  • +Vibrant, fresh fruit character

Cons

  • High ABV (53.8%) — may need water
  • More expensive (£134.5 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 Linkwood?

Linkwood 15 Year Old 2009 (cask 22605907) - Connoisseurs Choice (Gordon & MacPhail) 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

HoneyDried Fruit

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

Malt ExtractToastedVanilla

Only Linkwood 15 Year Old 2009 (cask 22605907) - Connoisseurs Choice (Gordon & MacPhail)

SherriedChocolateCooked Fruit

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