Arran 26 Year Old 1997 (cask 17849) - Xtra Old Particular (Douglas Laing) vs Caol Ila 17 Year Old 1997 Unpeated (Special Release 2015)
Side-by-side comparison — price, ABV, scores, tasting notes, pros & cons.
Arran 26 Year Old 1997 (cask 17849) - Xtra Old Particular (Douglas Laing)
Arran
£389
Caol Ila 17 Year Old 1997 Unpeated (Special Release 2015)
Caol Ila
★ 5.00
£250
| Arran 26 Year Old 1997 (cask 17849) - Xtra Old Particular (Douglas Laing) | Caol Ila 17 Year Old 1997 Unpeated (Special Release 2015) | |
|---|---|---|
| Distillery | Arran | Caol Ila |
| Region | Island | Islay |
| Country | Scotland | Scotland |
| Type | Single Malt | Single Malt |
| ABV | 51.9% | 55.9% |
| Age | 26 yr | 17 yr |
| Price | £388.5 | £250 |
| Rating | — | 5.00/5 |
Arran 26 Year Old 1997 (cask 17849) - Xtra Old Particular (Douglas Laing)
Caol Ila 17 Year Old 1997 Unpeated (Special Release 2015)
Arran 26 Year Old 1997 (cask 17849) - Xtra Old Particular (Douglas Laing)
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).
Caol Ila 17 Year Old 1997 Unpeated (Special Release 2015) is better value at £250 vs £389.
For beginners: Arran 26 Year Old 1997 (cask 17849) - Xtra Old Particular (Douglas Laing) is more approachable (45/100 beginner score).
Arran 26 Year Old 1997 (cask 17849) - Xtra Old Particular (Douglas Laing)
Pros
- +Longer maturation (26 vs 17 years)
- +Rich oak and wood spice complexity
Cons
- −High ABV (51.9%) — may need water
- −More expensive (£388.5 vs £250)
- −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)
- +More affordable (£250 vs £388.5)
- +More widely reviewed by the community
Cons
- −High ABV (55.9%) — may need water
Who should buy Arran?
Arran 26 Year Old 1997 (cask 17849) - Xtra Old Particular (Douglas Laing) 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
Both taste of
Only Arran 26 Year Old 1997 (cask 17849) - Xtra Old Particular (Douglas Laing)
Only Caol Ila 17 Year Old 1997 Unpeated (Special Release 2015)