North British 30 Year Old 1988 (cask 12538) - Xtra Old Particular (Douglas Laing) vs Glen Grant 20 Year Old 1992 (cask 446106) - The Octave (Duncan Taylor)
Side-by-side comparison — price, ABV, scores, tasting notes, pros & cons.
North British 30 Year Old 1988 (cask 12538) - Xtra Old Particular (Douglas Laing)
North British
£167
Glen Grant 20 Year Old 1992 (cask 446106) - The Octave (Duncan Taylor)
Glen Grant
★ 5.00
£106
| North British 30 Year Old 1988 (cask 12538) - Xtra Old Particular (Douglas Laing) | Glen Grant 20 Year Old 1992 (cask 446106) - The Octave (Duncan Taylor) | |
|---|---|---|
| Distillery | North British | Glen Grant |
| Region | Lowland | Speyside |
| Country | Scotland | Scotland |
| Type | Grain | Single Malt |
| ABV | 50.7% | 52.5% |
| Age | 30 yr | 20 yr |
| Price | £166.5 | £106.37 |
| Rating | — | 5.00/5 |
North British 30 Year Old 1988 (cask 12538) - Xtra Old Particular (Douglas Laing)
Glen Grant 20 Year Old 1992 (cask 446106) - The Octave (Duncan Taylor)
North British 30 Year Old 1988 (cask 12538) - Xtra Old Particular (Douglas Laing)
Glen Grant 20 Year Old 1992 (cask 446106) - The Octave (Duncan Taylor)
Quick verdict
Glen Grant 20 Year Old 1992 (cask 446106) - The Octave (Duncan Taylor) is rated higher (5.00 vs 0.00).
Glen Grant 20 Year Old 1992 (cask 446106) - The Octave (Duncan Taylor) is better value at £106 vs £167.
For beginners: North British 30 Year Old 1988 (cask 12538) - Xtra Old Particular (Douglas Laing) is more approachable (45/100 beginner score).
North British 30 Year Old 1988 (cask 12538) - Xtra Old Particular (Douglas Laing)
Pros
- +Longer maturation (30 vs 20 years)
Cons
- −High ABV (50.7%) — may need water
- −More expensive (£166.5 vs £106.37)
- −Lower community rating (0.0 vs 5.0)
Glen Grant 20 Year Old 1992 (cask 446106) - The Octave (Duncan Taylor)
Pros
- +Better value for money
- +Higher community rating (5.0/5)
- +More affordable (£106.37 vs £166.5)
- +More widely reviewed by the community
Cons
- −High ABV (52.5%) — may need water
Who should buy North?
North British 30 Year Old 1988 (cask 12538) - Xtra Old Particular (Douglas Laing) 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.
Who should buy Glen?
Glen Grant 20 Year Old 1992 (cask 446106) - The Octave (Duncan Taylor) 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 North British 30 Year Old 1988 (cask 12538) - Xtra Old Particular (Douglas Laing)
Only Glen Grant 20 Year Old 1992 (cask 446106) - The Octave (Duncan Taylor)