Darkness! Ardbeg 23 Year Old Oloroso Cask Finish vs Grosperrin Grande Champagne Cognac 1972 / Cognac Sponge Edition 6

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

Darkness! Ardbeg 23 Year Old Oloroso Cask FinishGrosperrin Grande Champagne Cognac 1972 / Cognac Sponge Edition 6
DistilleryArdbegGrosperrin
RegionIslay
CountryScotlandUnited Kingdom
TypeSingle Malt
ABV49.1%40%
Age23 yrNAS
Price£291.95£273
Rating5.00/5

Darkness! Ardbeg 23 Year Old Oloroso Cask Finish

Smoke64/100
Sweetness55/100
Beginner45/100
Value17/100

Grosperrin Grande Champagne Cognac 1972 / Cognac Sponge Edition 6

Smoke0/100
Sweetness54/100
Beginner70/100
Value0/100

Darkness! Ardbeg 23 Year Old Oloroso Cask Finish

SmokySweetFruitySpicyWoodyFloral

Grosperrin Grande Champagne Cognac 1972 / Cognac Sponge Edition 6

SmokySweetFruitySpicyWoodyFloral

Quick verdict

Darkness! Ardbeg 23 Year Old Oloroso Cask Finish is rated higher (5.00 vs 0.00).

Grosperrin Grande Champagne Cognac 1972 / Cognac Sponge Edition 6 is better value at £273 vs £292.

For beginners: Grosperrin Grande Champagne Cognac 1972 / Cognac Sponge Edition 6 is more approachable (70/100 beginner score).

Darkness! Ardbeg 23 Year Old Oloroso Cask Finish

Pros

  • +Balanced smoky character without being overwhelming
  • +Better value for money
  • +Higher community rating (5.0/5)
  • +More widely reviewed by the community

Cons

  • More expensive (£291.95 vs £273)

Grosperrin Grande Champagne Cognac 1972 / Cognac Sponge Edition 6

Pros

  • +Great entry point for new whisky drinkers
  • +More affordable (£273 vs £291.95)
  • +Vibrant, fresh fruit character
  • +Rich oak and wood spice complexity

Cons

  • Lower community rating (0.0 vs 5.0)
  • Lacks smoke character compared to the alternative

Who should buy Darkness!?

Darkness! Ardbeg 23 Year Old Oloroso Cask Finish suits whisky enthusiasts looking for a well-rounded, complex dram. It rewards those with some experience and an appreciation for Islay character.

Who should buy Grosperrin?

Grosperrin Grande Champagne Cognac 1972 / Cognac Sponge Edition 6 suits whisky enthusiasts looking for a well-rounded, complex dram. It rewards those with some experience and an appreciation for character.

Tasting notes

Both taste of

Cooked FruitOld Wood

Only Darkness! Ardbeg 23 Year Old Oloroso Cask Finish

SmokeySherriedLeathery

Only Grosperrin Grande Champagne Cognac 1972 / Cognac Sponge Edition 6

HoneyDried FruitToasted

Explore more