Deanston 12 Year Old vs Mary Queen Of Scots 12 Year Old

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

Deanston 12 Year OldMary Queen Of Scots 12 Year Old
DistilleryDeanstonMary Queen of Scots
RegionHighland
CountryScotlandScotland
TypeSingle MaltBlended Malt
ABV46.3%40%
Age12 yr12 yr
Price£36.9£36.5
Rating4.13/55.00/5

Deanston 12 Year Old

Smoke0/100
Sweetness45/100
Beginner70/100
Value100/100

Mary Queen Of Scots 12 Year Old

Smoke0/100
Sweetness59/100
Beginner85/100
Value100/100

Deanston 12 Year Old

SmokySweetFruitySpicyWoodyFloral

Mary Queen Of Scots 12 Year Old

SmokySweetFruitySpicyWoodyFloral

Quick verdict

Mary Queen Of Scots 12 Year Old is rated higher (5.00 vs 4.13).

Mary Queen Of Scots 12 Year Old is better value at £37 vs £37.

For beginners: Mary Queen Of Scots 12 Year Old is more approachable (85/100 beginner score).

Deanston 12 Year Old

Pros

  • +Great entry point for new whisky drinkers
  • +More widely reviewed by the community
  • +Vibrant, fresh fruit character

Cons

  • More expensive (£36.9 vs £36.5)
  • Lower community rating (4.1 vs 5.0)

Mary Queen Of Scots 12 Year Old

Pros

  • +Great entry point for new whisky drinkers
  • +Higher community rating (5.0/5)
  • +More affordable (£36.5 vs £36.9)

Cons

  • Niche style — may not suit all palates

Who should buy Deanston?

Deanston 12 Year Old suits whisky enthusiasts looking for a well-rounded, complex dram. It rewards those with some experience and an appreciation for Highland character.

Who should buy Mary?

Mary Queen Of Scots 12 Year Old suits whisky enthusiasts looking for a well-rounded, complex dram. It rewards those with some experience and an appreciation for Blended Malt character.

Tasting notes

Both taste of

Malt ExtractFresh Fruit

Only Deanston 12 Year Old

CitricHay-like

Only Mary Queen Of Scots 12 Year Old

HoneyToastedVanilla

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