Benriach 12 Year Old 2009 (cask 4835) - Peated vs Famous Grouse Highland Decanter

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

Benriach 12 Year Old 2009 (cask 4835) - PeatedFamous Grouse Highland Decanter
DistilleryBenriachFamous Grouse
RegionSpeysideOther Scotch
CountryScotlandScotland
TypeSingle MaltBlended
ABV59.7%40%
Age12 yrNAS
Price£99£99.99
Rating5.00/5

Benriach 12 Year Old 2009 (cask 4835) - Peated

Smoke64/100
Sweetness47/100
Beginner30/100
Value0/100

Famous Grouse Highland Decanter

Smoke0/100
Sweetness64/100
Beginner75/100
Value50/100

Benriach 12 Year Old 2009 (cask 4835) - Peated

SmokySweetFruitySpicyWoodyFloral

Famous Grouse Highland Decanter

SmokySweetFruitySpicyWoodyFloral

Quick verdict

Famous Grouse Highland Decanter is rated higher (5.00 vs 0.00).

Benriach 12 Year Old 2009 (cask 4835) - Peated is better value at £99 vs £100.

For beginners: Famous Grouse Highland Decanter is more approachable (75/100 beginner score).

Benriach 12 Year Old 2009 (cask 4835) - Peated

Pros

  • +Balanced smoky character without being overwhelming
  • +More affordable (£99 vs £99.99)
  • +Vibrant, fresh fruit character

Cons

  • High ABV (59.7%) — may need water
  • Lower community rating (0.0 vs 5.0)

Famous Grouse Highland Decanter

Pros

  • +Great entry point for new whisky drinkers
  • +Better value for money
  • +Higher community rating (5.0/5)
  • +More widely reviewed by the community

Cons

  • More expensive (£99.99 vs £99)
  • Lacks smoke character compared to the alternative

Who should buy Benriach?

Benriach 12 Year Old 2009 (cask 4835) - Peated 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 Famous?

Famous Grouse Highland Decanter 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.

Tasting notes

Both taste of

Toasted

Only Benriach 12 Year Old 2009 (cask 4835) - Peated

SmokeySherriedDried FruitOily

Only Famous Grouse Highland Decanter

Malt ExtractVanillaHoney

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