Benriach 11 Year Old 1998 - Provenance (Douglas Laing) vs Big Peat at Christmas 2021

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

Benriach 11 Year Old 1998 - Provenance (Douglas Laing)Big Peat at Christmas 2021
DistilleryBenriachBig Peat
RegionSpeysideIslay
CountryScotlandScotland
TypeSingle MaltBlended Malt
ABV46%52.8%
Age11 yrNAS
Price£37.56£47.9
Rating5.00/5

Benriach 11 Year Old 1998 - Provenance (Douglas Laing)

Smoke0/100
Sweetness64/100
Beginner75/100
Value0/100

Big Peat at Christmas 2021

Smoke66/100
Sweetness0/100
Beginner35/100
Value100/100

Benriach 11 Year Old 1998 - Provenance (Douglas Laing)

SmokySweetFruitySpicyWoodyFloral

Big Peat at Christmas 2021

SmokySweetFruitySpicyWoodyFloral

Quick verdict

Big Peat at Christmas 2021 is rated higher (5.00 vs 0.00).

Benriach 11 Year Old 1998 - Provenance (Douglas Laing) is better value at £38 vs £48.

For beginners: Benriach 11 Year Old 1998 - Provenance (Douglas Laing) is more approachable (75/100 beginner score).

Benriach 11 Year Old 1998 - Provenance (Douglas Laing)

Pros

  • +Great entry point for new whisky drinkers
  • +More affordable (£37.56 vs £47.9)

Cons

  • Lower community rating (0.0 vs 5.0)
  • Lacks smoke character compared to the alternative

Big Peat at Christmas 2021

Pros

  • +Balanced smoky character without being overwhelming
  • +Better value for money
  • +Higher community rating (5.0/5)
  • +More widely reviewed by the community

Cons

  • High ABV (52.8%) — may need water
  • More expensive (£47.9 vs £37.56)
  • Dry and austere — not for those who prefer sweeter drams

Who should buy Benriach?

Benriach 11 Year Old 1998 - Provenance (Douglas Laing) is an ideal first whisky — sweet, approachable, and widely available. It's a great gift and a safe choice for anyone new to whisky or who prefers lighter, friendlier drams.

Who should buy Big?

Big Peat at Christmas 2021 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

Oily

Only Benriach 11 Year Old 1998 - Provenance (Douglas Laing)

Malt ExtractVanillaHoneyNutty

Only Big Peat at Christmas 2021

SmokeyMedicinalCoal-gas

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