Benrinnes 15 Year Old 2006 (cask 15419) - Old Particular Fanatical About Flavour (Douglas Laing) (Master of Malt Exclusive) vs Ardmore 21 Year Old 1996 (cask AR96A) - The Single Cask

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

Benrinnes 15 Year Old 2006 (cask 15419) - Old Particular Fanatical About Flavour (Douglas Laing) (Master of Malt Exclusive)Ardmore 21 Year Old 1996 (cask AR96A) - The Single Cask
DistilleryBenrinnesArdmore
RegionSpeysideHighland
CountryScotlandScotland
TypeSingle MaltSingle Malt
ABV51.5%53.8%
Age15 yr21 yr
Price£99.95£124.95
Rating5.00/5

Benrinnes 15 Year Old 2006 (cask 15419) - Old Particular Fanatical About Flavour (Douglas Laing) (Master of Malt Exclusive)

Smoke0/100
Sweetness40/100
Beginner50/100
Value50/100

Ardmore 21 Year Old 1996 (cask AR96A) - The Single Cask

Smoke68/100
Sweetness30/100
Beginner30/100
Value0/100

Benrinnes 15 Year Old 2006 (cask 15419) - Old Particular Fanatical About Flavour (Douglas Laing) (Master of Malt Exclusive)

SmokySweetFruitySpicyWoodyFloral

Ardmore 21 Year Old 1996 (cask AR96A) - The Single Cask

SmokySweetFruitySpicyWoodyFloral

Quick verdict

Benrinnes 15 Year Old 2006 (cask 15419) - Old Particular Fanatical About Flavour (Douglas Laing) (Master of Malt Exclusive) is rated higher (5.00 vs 0.00).

Benrinnes 15 Year Old 2006 (cask 15419) - Old Particular Fanatical About Flavour (Douglas Laing) (Master of Malt Exclusive) is better value at £100 vs £125.

For beginners: Benrinnes 15 Year Old 2006 (cask 15419) - Old Particular Fanatical About Flavour (Douglas Laing) (Master of Malt Exclusive) is more approachable (50/100 beginner score).

Benrinnes 15 Year Old 2006 (cask 15419) - Old Particular Fanatical About Flavour (Douglas Laing) (Master of Malt Exclusive)

Pros

  • +Better value for money
  • +Higher community rating (5.0/5)
  • +More affordable (£99.95 vs £124.95)
  • +More widely reviewed by the community

Cons

  • High ABV (51.5%) — may need water
  • Lacks smoke character compared to the alternative

Ardmore 21 Year Old 1996 (cask AR96A) - The Single Cask

Pros

  • +Balanced smoky character without being overwhelming
  • +Longer maturation (21 vs 15 years)
  • +Rich oak and wood spice complexity

Cons

  • High ABV (53.8%) — may need water
  • More expensive (£124.95 vs £99.95)
  • Lower community rating (0.0 vs 5.0)

Who should buy Benrinnes?

Benrinnes 15 Year Old 2006 (cask 15419) - Old Particular Fanatical About Flavour (Douglas Laing) (Master of Malt Exclusive) 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 Ardmore?

Ardmore 21 Year Old 1996 (cask AR96A) - The Single Cask 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

Old WoodToasted

Only Benrinnes 15 Year Old 2006 (cask 15419) - Old Particular Fanatical About Flavour (Douglas Laing) (Master of Malt Exclusive)

NuttySherried

Only Ardmore 21 Year Old 1996 (cask AR96A) - The Single Cask

SmokeyMedicinal

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