Old Rip Van Winkle 10 Year Old - 107 Proof - 2011 Bottling vs Blair Athol 38 Year Old 1986 - 'Eternal Cycle' (One8Nine)

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

Old Rip Van Winkle 10 Year Old - 107 Proof - 2011 BottlingBlair Athol 38 Year Old 1986 - 'Eternal Cycle' (One8Nine)
DistilleryOld Rip Van WinkleBlair Athol
RegionHighland
CountryAmericaScotland
TypeBourbonSingle Malt
ABV53.5%51.5%
Age10 yr38 yr
Price£1500£2486.5
Rating4.50/5

Old Rip Van Winkle 10 Year Old - 107 Proof - 2011 Bottling

Smoke0/100
Sweetness50/100
Beginner45/100
Value3/100

Blair Athol 38 Year Old 1986 - 'Eternal Cycle' (One8Nine)

Smoke0/100
Sweetness55/100
Beginner45/100
Value0/100

Old Rip Van Winkle 10 Year Old - 107 Proof - 2011 Bottling

SmokySweetFruitySpicyWoodyFloral

Blair Athol 38 Year Old 1986 - 'Eternal Cycle' (One8Nine)

SmokySweetFruitySpicyWoodyFloral

Quick verdict

Old Rip Van Winkle 10 Year Old - 107 Proof - 2011 Bottling is rated higher (4.50 vs 0.00).

Old Rip Van Winkle 10 Year Old - 107 Proof - 2011 Bottling is better value at £1500 vs £2487.

For beginners: Old Rip Van Winkle 10 Year Old - 107 Proof - 2011 Bottling is more approachable (45/100 beginner score).

Old Rip Van Winkle 10 Year Old - 107 Proof - 2011 Bottling

Pros

  • +Better value for money
  • +Higher community rating (4.5/5)
  • +More affordable (£1500 vs £2486.5)
  • +More widely reviewed by the community

Cons

  • High ABV (53.5%) — may need water

Blair Athol 38 Year Old 1986 - 'Eternal Cycle' (One8Nine)

Pros

  • +Longer maturation (38 vs 10 years)
  • +Vibrant, fresh fruit character

Cons

  • High ABV (51.5%) — may need water
  • More expensive (£2486.5 vs £1500)
  • Lower community rating (0.0 vs 4.5)

Who should buy Old?

Old Rip Van Winkle 10 Year Old - 107 Proof - 2011 Bottling 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 Blair?

Blair Athol 38 Year Old 1986 - 'Eternal Cycle' (One8Nine) 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 Old Rip Van Winkle 10 Year Old - 107 Proof - 2011 Bottling

VanillaToastedNuttyOily

Only Blair Athol 38 Year Old 1986 - 'Eternal Cycle' (One8Nine)

Old WoodSherriedLeatheryDried Fruit

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