Benrinnes 1997 (bottled 2013) - Connoisseurs Choice (Gordon & MacPhail) vs Rock Island Sherry Edition

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

Benrinnes 1997 (bottled 2013) - Connoisseurs Choice (Gordon & MacPhail)Rock Island Sherry Edition
DistilleryBenrinnesRock Island
RegionSpeysideIsland
CountryScotlandScotland
TypeSingle MaltBlended Malt
ABV46%46.8%
Age16 yrNAS
Price£36.13£50
Rating5.00/5

Benrinnes 1997 (bottled 2013) - Connoisseurs Choice (Gordon & MacPhail)

Smoke0/100
Sweetness47/100
Beginner75/100
Value0/100

Rock Island Sherry Edition

Smoke64/100
Sweetness47/100
Beginner50/100
Value100/100

Benrinnes 1997 (bottled 2013) - Connoisseurs Choice (Gordon & MacPhail)

SmokySweetFruitySpicyWoodyFloral

Rock Island Sherry Edition

SmokySweetFruitySpicyWoodyFloral

Quick verdict

Rock Island Sherry Edition is rated higher (5.00 vs 0.00).

Benrinnes 1997 (bottled 2013) - Connoisseurs Choice (Gordon & MacPhail) is better value at £36 vs £50.

For beginners: Benrinnes 1997 (bottled 2013) - Connoisseurs Choice (Gordon & MacPhail) is more approachable (75/100 beginner score).

Benrinnes 1997 (bottled 2013) - Connoisseurs Choice (Gordon & MacPhail)

Pros

  • +Great entry point for new whisky drinkers
  • +More affordable (£36.13 vs £50)
  • +Vibrant, fresh fruit character

Cons

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

Rock Island Sherry Edition

Pros

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

Cons

  • More expensive (£50 vs £36.13)

Who should buy Benrinnes?

Benrinnes 1997 (bottled 2013) - Connoisseurs Choice (Gordon & MacPhail) suits whisky enthusiasts looking for a well-rounded, complex dram. It rewards those with some experience and an appreciation for Speyside character.

Who should buy Rock?

Rock Island Sherry Edition suits whisky enthusiasts looking for a well-rounded, complex dram. It rewards those with some experience and an appreciation for Island character.

Tasting notes

Both taste of

SherriedDried FruitNutty

Only Benrinnes 1997 (bottled 2013) - Connoisseurs Choice (Gordon & MacPhail)

Old WoodTobacco

Only Rock Island Sherry Edition

SmokeySandy

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