Masthouse Single Malt - Single Cask #137 vs Bowmore 12 Year Old

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

Masthouse Single Malt - Single Cask #137Bowmore 12 Year Old
DistilleryCopper Rivet DistilleryBowmore
RegionIslay
CountryEnglandScotland
TypeSingle MaltSingle Malt
ABV56.2%40%
AgeNAS12 yr
Price£47.3£38.79
Rating5.00/53.87/5

Masthouse Single Malt - Single Cask #137

Smoke0/100
Sweetness45/100
Beginner40/100
Value100/100

Bowmore 12 Year Old

Smoke64/100
Sweetness72/100
Beginner90/100
Value100/100

Masthouse Single Malt - Single Cask #137

SmokySweetFruitySpicyWoodyFloral

Bowmore 12 Year Old

SmokySweetFruitySpicyWoodyFloral

Quick verdict

Masthouse Single Malt - Single Cask #137 is rated higher (5.00 vs 3.87).

Bowmore 12 Year Old is better value at £39 vs £47.

For beginners: Bowmore 12 Year Old is more approachable (90/100 beginner score).

Masthouse Single Malt - Single Cask #137

Pros

  • +Higher community rating (5.0/5)

Cons

  • High ABV (56.2%) — may need water
  • More expensive (£47.3 vs £38.79)
  • Lacks smoke character compared to the alternative

Bowmore 12 Year Old

Pros

  • +Balanced smoky character without being overwhelming
  • +Approachable and beginner-friendly sweetness
  • +Great entry point for new whisky drinkers
  • +More affordable (£38.79 vs £47.3)

Cons

  • Lower community rating (3.9 vs 5.0)

Who should buy Masthouse?

Masthouse Single Malt - Single Cask #137 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 12 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

Fresh Fruit

Only Masthouse Single Malt - Single Cask #137

YeastyHay-likeMalt ExtractGreen-House

Only Bowmore 12 Year Old

SmokeyHoneyLeafyVanilla

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