Caol Ila 8 Year Old 2014 (cask 321525A) - The Single Cask vs Timorous Beastie 13 Year Old – Meet The Beast

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

Caol Ila 8 Year Old 2014 (cask 321525A) - The Single CaskTimorous Beastie 13 Year Old – Meet The Beast
DistilleryCaol IlaTimorous Beastie
RegionIslayHighland
CountryScotlandScotland
TypeSingle MaltBlended Malt
ABV56.5%52.5%
Age8 yr13 yr
Price£82.95£62.95
Rating5.00/5

Caol Ila 8 Year Old 2014 (cask 321525A) - The Single Cask

Smoke68/100
Sweetness55/100
Beginner30/100
Value0/100

Timorous Beastie 13 Year Old – Meet The Beast

Smoke0/100
Sweetness66/100
Beginner65/100
Value79/100

Caol Ila 8 Year Old 2014 (cask 321525A) - The Single Cask

SmokySweetFruitySpicyWoodyFloral

Timorous Beastie 13 Year Old – Meet The Beast

SmokySweetFruitySpicyWoodyFloral

Quick verdict

Timorous Beastie 13 Year Old – Meet The Beast is rated higher (5.00 vs 0.00).

Timorous Beastie 13 Year Old – Meet The Beast is better value at £63 vs £83.

For beginners: Timorous Beastie 13 Year Old – Meet The Beast is more approachable (65/100 beginner score).

Caol Ila 8 Year Old 2014 (cask 321525A) - The Single Cask

Pros

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

Cons

  • High ABV (56.5%) — may need water
  • More expensive (£82.95 vs £62.95)
  • Lower community rating (0.0 vs 5.0)

Timorous Beastie 13 Year Old – Meet The Beast

Pros

  • +Approachable and beginner-friendly sweetness
  • +Better value for money
  • +Higher community rating (5.0/5)
  • +More affordable (£62.95 vs £82.95)

Cons

  • High ABV (52.5%) — may need water
  • Lacks smoke character compared to the alternative

Who should buy Caol?

Caol Ila 8 Year Old 2014 (cask 321525A) - 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 Timorous?

Timorous Beastie 13 Year Old – Meet The Beast 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 8 Year Old 2014 (cask 321525A) - The Single Cask

SmokeySherriedOilyDried FruitMedicinal

Only Timorous Beastie 13 Year Old – Meet The Beast

VanillaHoneyMalt ExtractFresh Fruit

Where to buy

Caol Ila 8 Year Old 2014 (cask 321525A) - The Single Cask

Timorous Beastie 13 Year Old – Meet The Beast

Explore more