Benriach 18 Year Old 1998 (cask 6401) - Triple Distilled, Pedro Ximénez Cask Finish vs Macduff 20 Year Old 1995 (cask 7869 & 7872) - Cask Strength Collection (Signatory)
Side-by-side comparison — price, ABV, scores, tasting notes, pros & cons.
Benriach 18 Year Old 1998 (cask 6401) - Triple Distilled, Pedro Ximénez Cask Finish
Benriach
£111
Macduff 20 Year Old 1995 (cask 7869 & 7872) - Cask Strength Collection (Signatory)
Macduff
★ 5.00
£75
| Benriach 18 Year Old 1998 (cask 6401) - Triple Distilled, Pedro Ximénez Cask Finish | Macduff 20 Year Old 1995 (cask 7869 & 7872) - Cask Strength Collection (Signatory) | |
|---|---|---|
| Distillery | Benriach | Macduff |
| Region | Speyside | Highland |
| Country | Scotland | Scotland |
| Type | Single Malt | Single Malt |
| ABV | 57.3% | 55% |
| Age | 18 yr | 20 yr |
| Price | £111 | £75.3 |
| Rating | — | 5.00/5 |
Benriach 18 Year Old 1998 (cask 6401) - Triple Distilled, Pedro Ximénez Cask Finish
Macduff 20 Year Old 1995 (cask 7869 & 7872) - Cask Strength Collection (Signatory)
Benriach 18 Year Old 1998 (cask 6401) - Triple Distilled, Pedro Ximénez Cask Finish
Macduff 20 Year Old 1995 (cask 7869 & 7872) - Cask Strength Collection (Signatory)
Quick verdict
Macduff 20 Year Old 1995 (cask 7869 & 7872) - Cask Strength Collection (Signatory) is rated higher (5.00 vs 0.00).
Macduff 20 Year Old 1995 (cask 7869 & 7872) - Cask Strength Collection (Signatory) is better value at £75 vs £111.
For beginners: Benriach 18 Year Old 1998 (cask 6401) - Triple Distilled, Pedro Ximénez Cask Finish is more approachable (50/100 beginner score).
Benriach 18 Year Old 1998 (cask 6401) - Triple Distilled, Pedro Ximénez Cask Finish
Pros
- +Approachable and beginner-friendly sweetness
- +Vibrant, fresh fruit character
Cons
- −High ABV (57.3%) — may need water
- −More expensive (£111 vs £75.3)
- −Lower community rating (0.0 vs 5.0)
Macduff 20 Year Old 1995 (cask 7869 & 7872) - Cask Strength Collection (Signatory)
Pros
- +Better value for money
- +Higher community rating (5.0/5)
- +More affordable (£75.3 vs £111)
- +Longer maturation (20 vs 18 years)
Cons
- −High ABV (55%) — may need water
Who should buy Benriach?
Benriach 18 Year Old 1998 (cask 6401) - Triple Distilled, Pedro Ximénez Cask Finish suits those who enjoy sweet, honeyed, or fruity whiskies. It's accessible for beginners and crowd-pleasing enough for gifts. Fans of approachable Speyside or Irish whiskey will love it.
Who should buy Macduff?
Macduff 20 Year Old 1995 (cask 7869 & 7872) - Cask Strength Collection (Signatory) 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 Benriach 18 Year Old 1998 (cask 6401) - Triple Distilled, Pedro Ximénez Cask Finish
Only Macduff 20 Year Old 1995 (cask 7869 & 7872) - Cask Strength Collection (Signatory)