BenRiach 18 Year Old 1997 (cask 85089) vs Famous Grouse Highland Decanter

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

BenRiach 18 Year Old 1997 (cask 85089)Famous Grouse Highland Decanter
DistilleryBenriachFamous Grouse
RegionSpeysideOther Scotch
CountryScotlandScotland
TypeSingle MaltBlended
ABV59.5%40%
Age18 yrNAS
Price£95.52£99.99
Rating5.00/55.00/5

BenRiach 18 Year Old 1997 (cask 85089)

Smoke0/100
Sweetness59/100
Beginner40/100
Value52/100

Famous Grouse Highland Decanter

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

BenRiach 18 Year Old 1997 (cask 85089)

SmokySweetFruitySpicyWoodyFloral

Famous Grouse Highland Decanter

SmokySweetFruitySpicyWoodyFloral

Quick verdict

BenRiach 18 Year Old 1997 (cask 85089) is better value at £96 vs £100.

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

BenRiach 18 Year Old 1997 (cask 85089)

Pros

  • +Better value for money
  • +More affordable (£95.52 vs £99.99)

Cons

  • High ABV (59.5%) — may need water

Famous Grouse Highland Decanter

Pros

  • +Great entry point for new whisky drinkers
  • +More widely reviewed by the community

Cons

  • More expensive (£99.99 vs £95.52)

Who should buy BenRiach?

BenRiach 18 Year Old 1997 (cask 85089) 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

VanillaHoneyMalt ExtractToasted

Only BenRiach 18 Year Old 1997 (cask 85089)

Fresh Fruit

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