Caol Ila 12 Year Old Oloroso Cask Finish (Darkness) vs Timorous Beastie 13 Year Old – Meet The Beast

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

Caol Ila 12 Year Old Oloroso Cask Finish (Darkness)Timorous Beastie 13 Year Old – Meet The Beast
DistilleryCaol IlaTimorous Beastie
RegionHighland
CountryScotlandScotland
TypeSingle MaltBlended Malt
ABV56.2%52.5%
Age12 yr13 yr
Price£78.95£62.95
Rating5.00/5

Caol Ila 12 Year Old Oloroso Cask Finish (Darkness)

Smoke64/100
Sweetness60/100
Beginner30/100
Value0/100

Timorous Beastie 13 Year Old – Meet The Beast

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

Caol Ila 12 Year Old Oloroso Cask Finish (Darkness)

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 £79.

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

Caol Ila 12 Year Old Oloroso Cask Finish (Darkness)

Pros

  • +Balanced smoky character without being overwhelming

Cons

  • High ABV (56.2%) — may need water
  • More expensive (£78.95 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 £78.95)

Cons

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

Who should buy Caol?

Caol Ila 12 Year Old Oloroso Cask Finish (Darkness) 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 12 Year Old Oloroso Cask Finish (Darkness)

SmokeySherriedOld WoodTobacco

Only Timorous Beastie 13 Year Old – Meet The Beast

VanillaHoneyMalt ExtractFresh Fruit

Where to buy

Caol Ila 12 Year Old Oloroso Cask Finish (Darkness)

Timorous Beastie 13 Year Old – Meet The Beast

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