Benriach 13 Year Old Madeira Finish - Maderensis Fumosus vs Secret Highland 9 Year Old 2010 (Master of Malt)

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

Benriach 13 Year Old Madeira Finish - Maderensis FumosusSecret Highland 9 Year Old 2010 (Master of Malt)
DistilleryBenriachMaster of Malt
RegionSpeyside
CountryScotlandScotland
TypeSingle MaltSingle Malt
ABV46%46%
Age13 yr9 yr
Price£31.64£29.95
Rating4.75/55.00/5

Benriach 13 Year Old Madeira Finish - Maderensis Fumosus

Smoke64/100
Sweetness47/100
Beginner65/100
Value100/100

Secret Highland 9 Year Old 2010 (Master of Malt)

Smoke0/100
Sweetness59/100
Beginner75/100
Value100/100

Benriach 13 Year Old Madeira Finish - Maderensis Fumosus

SmokySweetFruitySpicyWoodyFloral

Secret Highland 9 Year Old 2010 (Master of Malt)

SmokySweetFruitySpicyWoodyFloral

Quick verdict

Secret Highland 9 Year Old 2010 (Master of Malt) is rated higher (5.00 vs 4.75).

Secret Highland 9 Year Old 2010 (Master of Malt) is better value at £30 vs £32.

For beginners: Secret Highland 9 Year Old 2010 (Master of Malt) is more approachable (75/100 beginner score).

Benriach 13 Year Old Madeira Finish - Maderensis Fumosus

Pros

  • +Balanced smoky character without being overwhelming
  • +Longer maturation (13 vs 9 years)

Cons

  • More expensive (£31.64 vs £29.95)
  • Lower community rating (4.8 vs 5.0)

Secret Highland 9 Year Old 2010 (Master of Malt)

Pros

  • +Great entry point for new whisky drinkers
  • +Higher community rating (5.0/5)
  • +More affordable (£29.95 vs £31.64)

Cons

  • Lacks smoke character compared to the alternative

Who should buy Benriach?

Benriach 13 Year Old Madeira Finish - Maderensis Fumosus 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 Secret?

Secret Highland 9 Year Old 2010 (Master of Malt) suits whisky enthusiasts looking for a well-rounded, complex dram. It rewards those with some experience and an appreciation for Single Malt character.

Tasting notes

Both taste of

Toasted

Only Benriach 13 Year Old Madeira Finish - Maderensis Fumosus

SmokeySherriedCooked FruitLeathery

Only Secret Highland 9 Year Old 2010 (Master of Malt)

HoneyMalt ExtractVanillaFresh Fruit

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