Aberlour 16 Year Old Hand Filled Sherry Cask - Batch A15 vs Caol Ila 17 Year Old 1997 Unpeated (Special Release 2015)
Side-by-side comparison — price, ABV, scores, tasting notes, pros & cons.
Aberlour 16 Year Old Hand Filled Sherry Cask - Batch A15
Aberlour
£199
Caol Ila 17 Year Old 1997 Unpeated (Special Release 2015)
Caol Ila
★ 5.00
£250
| Aberlour 16 Year Old Hand Filled Sherry Cask - Batch A15 | Caol Ila 17 Year Old 1997 Unpeated (Special Release 2015) | |
|---|---|---|
| Distillery | Aberlour | Caol Ila |
| Region | Speyside | Islay |
| Country | Scotland | Scotland |
| Type | Single Malt | Single Malt |
| ABV | 56.5% | 55.9% |
| Age | 16 yr | 17 yr |
| Price | £199 | £250 |
| Rating | — | 5.00/5 |
Aberlour 16 Year Old Hand Filled Sherry Cask - Batch A15
Caol Ila 17 Year Old 1997 Unpeated (Special Release 2015)
Aberlour 16 Year Old Hand Filled Sherry Cask - Batch A15
Caol Ila 17 Year Old 1997 Unpeated (Special Release 2015)
Quick verdict
Caol Ila 17 Year Old 1997 Unpeated (Special Release 2015) is rated higher (5.00 vs 0.00).
Aberlour 16 Year Old Hand Filled Sherry Cask - Batch A15 is better value at £199 vs £250.
For beginners: Aberlour 16 Year Old Hand Filled Sherry Cask - Batch A15 is more approachable (35/100 beginner score).
Aberlour 16 Year Old Hand Filled Sherry Cask - Batch A15
Pros
- +More affordable (£199 vs £250)
- +Vibrant, fresh fruit character
Cons
- −High ABV (56.5%) — may need water
- −Lower community rating (0.0 vs 5.0)
Caol Ila 17 Year Old 1997 Unpeated (Special Release 2015)
Pros
- +Better value for money
- +Higher community rating (5.0/5)
- +Longer maturation (17 vs 16 years)
- +More widely reviewed by the community
Cons
- −High ABV (55.9%) — may need water
- −More expensive (£250 vs £199)
Who should buy Aberlour?
Aberlour 16 Year Old Hand Filled Sherry Cask - Batch A15 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 Caol?
Caol Ila 17 Year Old 1997 Unpeated (Special Release 2015) 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 Aberlour 16 Year Old Hand Filled Sherry Cask - Batch A15
Only Caol Ila 17 Year Old 1997 Unpeated (Special Release 2015)