Caol Ila 10 Year Old 2014 - Benchmark (Murray McDavid) vs Scallywag The Winter Edition 2021

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

Caol Ila 10 Year Old 2014 - Benchmark (Murray McDavid)Scallywag The Winter Edition 2021
DistilleryCaol IlaScallywag
RegionIslaySpeyside
CountryScotlandScotland
TypeSingle MaltBlended Malt
ABV53.1%53.1%
Age10 yrNAS
Price£75.95£49
Rating5.00/5

Caol Ila 10 Year Old 2014 - Benchmark (Murray McDavid)

Smoke68/100
Sweetness30/100
Beginner35/100
Value0/100

Scallywag The Winter Edition 2021

Smoke0/100
Sweetness71/100
Beginner65/100
Value100/100

Caol Ila 10 Year Old 2014 - Benchmark (Murray McDavid)

SmokySweetFruitySpicyWoodyFloral

Scallywag The Winter Edition 2021

SmokySweetFruitySpicyWoodyFloral

Quick verdict

Scallywag The Winter Edition 2021 is rated higher (5.00 vs 0.00).

Scallywag The Winter Edition 2021 is better value at £49 vs £76.

For beginners: Scallywag The Winter Edition 2021 is more approachable (65/100 beginner score).

Caol Ila 10 Year Old 2014 - Benchmark (Murray McDavid)

Pros

  • +Balanced smoky character without being overwhelming
  • +Vibrant, fresh fruit character

Cons

  • High ABV (53.1%) — may need water
  • More expensive (£75.95 vs £49)
  • Lower community rating (0.0 vs 5.0)

Scallywag The Winter Edition 2021

Pros

  • +Approachable and beginner-friendly sweetness
  • +Better value for money
  • +Higher community rating (5.0/5)
  • +More affordable (£49 vs £75.95)

Cons

  • High ABV (53.1%) — may need water
  • Lacks smoke character compared to the alternative

Who should buy Caol?

Caol Ila 10 Year Old 2014 - Benchmark (Murray McDavid) 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 Scallywag?

Scallywag The Winter Edition 2021 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

Only Caol Ila 10 Year Old 2014 - Benchmark (Murray McDavid)

SmokeyMedicinalOilyToastedCitric

Only Scallywag The Winter Edition 2021

SherriedChocolateDried FruitHoneyVanilla

Where to buy

Caol Ila 10 Year Old 2014 - Benchmark (Murray McDavid)

Scallywag The Winter Edition 2021

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