Benriach 7 Year Old 2011 - Single Cask (Master of Malt) vs Dalmore 23 Year Old 1991 (cask 12174) - Rare Select (Montgomerie's)

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

Benriach 7 Year Old 2011 - Single Cask (Master of Malt)Dalmore 23 Year Old 1991 (cask 12174) - Rare Select (Montgomerie's)
DistilleryBenriachDalmore
RegionSpeysideHighland
CountryScotlandScotland
TypeSingle MaltSingle Malt
ABV64.2%46%
Age7 yr23 yr
Price£89.95£124.18
Rating4.00/55.00/5

Benriach 7 Year Old 2011 - Single Cask (Master of Malt)

Smoke64/100
Sweetness40/100
Beginner30/100
Value44/100

Dalmore 23 Year Old 1991 (cask 12174) - Rare Select (Montgomerie's)

Smoke0/100
Sweetness68/100
Beginner75/100
Value40/100

Benriach 7 Year Old 2011 - Single Cask (Master of Malt)

SmokySweetFruitySpicyWoodyFloral

Dalmore 23 Year Old 1991 (cask 12174) - Rare Select (Montgomerie's)

SmokySweetFruitySpicyWoodyFloral

Quick verdict

Dalmore 23 Year Old 1991 (cask 12174) - Rare Select (Montgomerie's) is rated higher (5.00 vs 4.00).

Benriach 7 Year Old 2011 - Single Cask (Master of Malt) is better value at £90 vs £124.

For beginners: Dalmore 23 Year Old 1991 (cask 12174) - Rare Select (Montgomerie's) is more approachable (75/100 beginner score).

Benriach 7 Year Old 2011 - Single Cask (Master of Malt)

Pros

  • +Balanced smoky character without being overwhelming
  • +Better value for money
  • +More affordable (£89.95 vs £124.18)

Cons

  • High ABV (64.2%) — may need water
  • Lower community rating (4.0 vs 5.0)

Dalmore 23 Year Old 1991 (cask 12174) - Rare Select (Montgomerie's)

Pros

  • +Approachable and beginner-friendly sweetness
  • +Great entry point for new whisky drinkers
  • +Higher community rating (5.0/5)
  • +Longer maturation (23 vs 7 years)

Cons

  • More expensive (£124.18 vs £89.95)
  • Lacks smoke character compared to the alternative

Who should buy Benriach?

Benriach 7 Year Old 2011 - Single Cask (Master of Malt) 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 Dalmore?

Dalmore 23 Year Old 1991 (cask 12174) - Rare Select (Montgomerie's) 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

Only Benriach 7 Year Old 2011 - Single Cask (Master of Malt)

SmokeyToastedMalt ExtractNew WoodOily

Only Dalmore 23 Year Old 1991 (cask 12174) - Rare Select (Montgomerie's)

SherriedOld WoodChocolateDried FruitVanilla

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