Secret Highland 9 Year Old 2010 (Master of Malt) vs 963 Malt & Grain Black Label

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

Secret Highland 9 Year Old 2010 (Master of Malt)963 Malt & Grain Black Label
DistilleryMaster of MaltYamazakura
Region
CountryScotlandJapan
TypeSingle MaltBlended
ABV46%46%
Age9 yrNAS
Price£29.95£37.95
Rating5.00/5

Secret Highland 9 Year Old 2010 (Master of Malt)

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

963 Malt & Grain Black Label

Smoke64/100
Sweetness40/100
Beginner65/100
Value0/100

Secret Highland 9 Year Old 2010 (Master of Malt)

SmokySweetFruitySpicyWoodyFloral

963 Malt & Grain Black Label

SmokySweetFruitySpicyWoodyFloral

Quick verdict

Secret Highland 9 Year Old 2010 (Master of Malt) is rated higher (5.00 vs 0.00).

Secret Highland 9 Year Old 2010 (Master of Malt) is better value at £30 vs £38.

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

Secret Highland 9 Year Old 2010 (Master of Malt)

Pros

  • +Great entry point for new whisky drinkers
  • +Better value for money
  • +Higher community rating (5.0/5)
  • +More affordable (£29.95 vs £37.95)

Cons

  • Lacks smoke character compared to the alternative

963 Malt & Grain Black Label

Pros

  • +Balanced smoky character without being overwhelming

Cons

  • More expensive (£37.95 vs £29.95)
  • Lower community rating (0.0 vs 5.0)

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.

Who should buy 963?

963 Malt & Grain Black Label suits whisky enthusiasts looking for a well-rounded, complex dram. It rewards those with some experience and an appreciation for Blended character.

Tasting notes

Both taste of

Malt ExtractToasted

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

HoneyVanillaFresh Fruit

Only 963 Malt & Grain Black Label

SmokeyOily

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