Benriach Peated 11 Year Old 2011 (cask 740016) - Duncan Taylor vs Famous Grouse Highland Decanter

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

Benriach Peated 11 Year Old 2011 (cask 740016) - Duncan TaylorFamous Grouse Highland Decanter
DistilleryBenriachFamous Grouse
RegionSpeysideOther Scotch
CountryScotlandScotland
TypeSingle MaltBlended
ABV53.5%40%
Age11 yrNAS
Price£111.69£99.99
Rating5.00/5

Benriach Peated 11 Year Old 2011 (cask 740016) - Duncan Taylor

Smoke64/100
Sweetness47/100
Beginner35/100
Value0/100

Famous Grouse Highland Decanter

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

Benriach Peated 11 Year Old 2011 (cask 740016) - Duncan Taylor

SmokySweetFruitySpicyWoodyFloral

Famous Grouse Highland Decanter

SmokySweetFruitySpicyWoodyFloral

Quick verdict

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

Famous Grouse Highland Decanter is better value at £100 vs £112.

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

Benriach Peated 11 Year Old 2011 (cask 740016) - Duncan Taylor

Pros

  • +Balanced smoky character without being overwhelming

Cons

  • High ABV (53.5%) — may need water
  • More expensive (£111.69 vs £99.99)
  • 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 affordable (£99.99 vs £111.69)

Cons

  • Lacks smoke character compared to the alternative

Who should buy Benriach?

Benriach Peated 11 Year Old 2011 (cask 740016) - Duncan Taylor 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 Peated 11 Year Old 2011 (cask 740016) - Duncan Taylor

SmokeySherriedCooked FruitLeathery

Only Famous Grouse Highland Decanter

Malt ExtractVanillaHoney

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