Benrinnes 24 Year Old 1988 (cask 2835) - Rare Select (Montgomerie's) vs Blair Athol 14 Year Old 2008 (cask 18601603) - 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)Blair Athol 14 Year Old 2008 (cask 18601603) - Connoisseurs Choice (Gordon & MacPhail)
DistilleryBenrinnesBlair Athol
RegionSpeysideHighland
CountryScotlandScotland
TypeSingle MaltSingle Malt
ABV46%57.8%
Age24 yr14 yr
Price£117.35£115.15
Rating5.00/5

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

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

Blair Athol 14 Year Old 2008 (cask 18601603) - Connoisseurs Choice (Gordon & MacPhail)

Smoke0/100
Sweetness64/100
Beginner35/100
Value0/100

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

SmokySweetFruitySpicyWoodyFloral

Blair Athol 14 Year Old 2008 (cask 18601603) - 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).

Blair Athol 14 Year Old 2008 (cask 18601603) - Connoisseurs Choice (Gordon & MacPhail) is better value at £115 vs £117.

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)
  • +Longer maturation (24 vs 14 years)
  • +More widely reviewed by the community

Cons

  • More expensive (£117.35 vs £115.15)

Blair Athol 14 Year Old 2008 (cask 18601603) - Connoisseurs Choice (Gordon & MacPhail)

Pros

  • +More affordable (£115.15 vs £117.35)
  • +Rich oak and wood spice complexity

Cons

  • High ABV (57.8%) — may need water
  • 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 Blair?

Blair Athol 14 Year Old 2008 (cask 18601603) - 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

Malt ExtractHoneyToastedVanilla

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

Dried Fruit

Only Blair Athol 14 Year Old 2008 (cask 18601603) - Connoisseurs Choice (Gordon & MacPhail)

Old Wood

Explore more