Deanston 25 Year Old 1996 (cask 18697) - Old Malt Cask (Hunter Laing) vs Sirius 31 Year Old - North Star Spirits

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

Deanston 25 Year Old 1996 (cask 18697) - Old Malt Cask (Hunter Laing)Sirius 31 Year Old - North Star Spirits
DistilleryDeanstonNorth Star Spirits
RegionHighland
CountryScotlandScotland
TypeSingle MaltBlended Malt
ABV50%43.1%
Age25 yr31 yr
Price£161.83£116.95
Rating3.00/55.00/5

Deanston 25 Year Old 1996 (cask 18697) - Old Malt Cask (Hunter Laing)

Smoke0/100
Sweetness64/100
Beginner55/100
Value19/100

Sirius 31 Year Old - North Star Spirits

Smoke0/100
Sweetness60/100
Beginner60/100
Value43/100

Deanston 25 Year Old 1996 (cask 18697) - Old Malt Cask (Hunter Laing)

SmokySweetFruitySpicyWoodyFloral

Sirius 31 Year Old - North Star Spirits

SmokySweetFruitySpicyWoodyFloral

Quick verdict

Sirius 31 Year Old - North Star Spirits is rated higher (5.00 vs 3.00).

Sirius 31 Year Old - North Star Spirits is better value at £117 vs £162.

For beginners: Sirius 31 Year Old - North Star Spirits is more approachable (60/100 beginner score).

Deanston 25 Year Old 1996 (cask 18697) - Old Malt Cask (Hunter Laing)

Pros

  • +Rich oak and wood spice complexity

Cons

  • More expensive (£161.83 vs £116.95)
  • Lower community rating (3.0 vs 5.0)

Sirius 31 Year Old - North Star Spirits

Pros

  • +Better value for money
  • +Higher community rating (5.0/5)
  • +More affordable (£116.95 vs £161.83)
  • +Longer maturation (31 vs 25 years)

Cons

  • Niche style — may not suit all palates

Who should buy Deanston?

Deanston 25 Year Old 1996 (cask 18697) - Old Malt Cask (Hunter Laing) suits whisky enthusiasts looking for a well-rounded, complex dram. It rewards those with some experience and an appreciation for Highland character.

Who should buy Sirius?

Sirius 31 Year Old - North Star Spirits suits whisky enthusiasts looking for a well-rounded, complex dram. It rewards those with some experience and an appreciation for Blended Malt character.

Tasting notes

Both taste of

Old WoodVanilla

Only Deanston 25 Year Old 1996 (cask 18697) - Old Malt Cask (Hunter Laing)

HoneyMalt ExtractToasted

Only Sirius 31 Year Old - North Star Spirits

Nutty

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