Charlie Parry’s Cask Strength Straight Bourbon vs Bowmore 11 Year Old

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

Charlie Parry’s Cask Strength Straight BourbonBowmore 11 Year Old
DistilleryCharlie Parry'sBowmore
RegionIslay
CountryAmericaScotland
TypeBourbonSingle Malt
ABV59.6%40%
AgeNAS11 yr
Price£50.76£47.5
Rating5.00/5

Charlie Parry’s Cask Strength Straight Bourbon

Smoke0/100
Sweetness59/100
Beginner40/100
Value99/100

Bowmore 11 Year Old

Smoke64/100
Sweetness65/100
Beginner80/100
Value0/100

Charlie Parry’s Cask Strength Straight Bourbon

SmokySweetFruitySpicyWoodyFloral

Bowmore 11 Year Old

SmokySweetFruitySpicyWoodyFloral

Quick verdict

Charlie Parry’s Cask Strength Straight Bourbon is rated higher (5.00 vs 0.00).

Bowmore 11 Year Old is better value at £48 vs £51.

For beginners: Bowmore 11 Year Old is more approachable (80/100 beginner score).

Charlie Parry’s Cask Strength Straight Bourbon

Pros

  • +Better value for money
  • +Higher community rating (5.0/5)
  • +More widely reviewed by the community
  • +Rich oak and wood spice complexity

Cons

  • High ABV (59.6%) — may need water
  • More expensive (£50.76 vs £47.5)
  • Lacks smoke character compared to the alternative

Bowmore 11 Year Old

Pros

  • +Balanced smoky character without being overwhelming
  • +Approachable and beginner-friendly sweetness
  • +Great entry point for new whisky drinkers
  • +More affordable (£47.5 vs £50.76)

Cons

  • Lower community rating (0.0 vs 5.0)

Who should buy Charlie?

Charlie Parry’s Cask Strength Straight Bourbon 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 Bowmore?

Bowmore 11 Year Old 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

Honey

Only Charlie Parry’s Cask Strength Straight Bourbon

VanillaToastedNew WoodNutty

Only Bowmore 11 Year Old

SmokeySherriedCooked FruitOily

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