Bunnahabhain 15 Year Old 2009 (Cask 183) - The Single Cask vs North of Scotland 37 Year Old 1972 - The Clan Denny (Douglas Laing)

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

Bunnahabhain 15 Year Old 2009 (Cask 183) - The Single CaskNorth of Scotland 37 Year Old 1972 - The Clan Denny (Douglas Laing)
DistilleryBunnahabhainNorth of Scotland
RegionIslay
CountryScotlandScotland
TypeSingle MaltGrain
ABV55%50.6%
Age15 yr37 yr
Price£131.95£103.47
Rating5.00/5

Bunnahabhain 15 Year Old 2009 (Cask 183) - The Single Cask

Smoke68/100
Sweetness0/100
Beginner30/100
Value0/100

North of Scotland 37 Year Old 1972 - The Clan Denny (Douglas Laing)

Smoke0/100
Sweetness68/100
Beginner60/100
Value48/100

Bunnahabhain 15 Year Old 2009 (Cask 183) - The Single Cask

SmokySweetFruitySpicyWoodyFloral

North of Scotland 37 Year Old 1972 - The Clan Denny (Douglas Laing)

SmokySweetFruitySpicyWoodyFloral

Quick verdict

North of Scotland 37 Year Old 1972 - The Clan Denny (Douglas Laing) is rated higher (5.00 vs 0.00).

North of Scotland 37 Year Old 1972 - The Clan Denny (Douglas Laing) is better value at £103 vs £132.

For beginners: North of Scotland 37 Year Old 1972 - The Clan Denny (Douglas Laing) is more approachable (60/100 beginner score).

Bunnahabhain 15 Year Old 2009 (Cask 183) - The Single Cask

Pros

  • +Balanced smoky character without being overwhelming

Cons

  • High ABV (55%) — may need water
  • More expensive (£131.95 vs £103.47)
  • Lower community rating (0.0 vs 5.0)

North of Scotland 37 Year Old 1972 - The Clan Denny (Douglas Laing)

Pros

  • +Approachable and beginner-friendly sweetness
  • +Better value for money
  • +Higher community rating (5.0/5)
  • +More affordable (£103.47 vs £131.95)

Cons

  • High ABV (50.6%) — may need water
  • Lacks smoke character compared to the alternative

Who should buy Bunnahabhain?

Bunnahabhain 15 Year Old 2009 (Cask 183) - The Single Cask 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 North?

North of Scotland 37 Year Old 1972 - The Clan Denny (Douglas Laing) suits those who enjoy sweet, honeyed, or fruity whiskies. It's accessible for beginners and crowd-pleasing enough for gifts. Fans of approachable Speyside or Irish whiskey will love it.

Tasting notes

Both taste of

Oily

Only Bunnahabhain 15 Year Old 2009 (Cask 183) - The Single Cask

SmokeyLeatheryMedicinal

Only North of Scotland 37 Year Old 1972 - The Clan Denny (Douglas Laing)

Old WoodVanillaHoneyNutty

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