Famous Grouse 12 Year Old - Vintage 1989 vs The Matsui Sakura Cask

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

Famous Grouse 12 Year Old - Vintage 1989The Matsui Sakura Cask
DistilleryFamous GrouseKurayoshi
RegionOther Scotch
CountryScotlandJapan
TypeBlendedSingle Malt
ABV40%43%
Age12 yrNAS
Price£150£125
Rating5.00/52.75/5

Famous Grouse 12 Year Old - Vintage 1989

Smoke0/100
Sweetness63/100
Beginner70/100
Value33/100

The Matsui Sakura Cask

Smoke0/100
Sweetness53/100
Beginner70/100
Value22/100

Famous Grouse 12 Year Old - Vintage 1989

SmokySweetFruitySpicyWoodyFloral

The Matsui Sakura Cask

SmokySweetFruitySpicyWoodyFloral

Quick verdict

Famous Grouse 12 Year Old - Vintage 1989 is rated higher (5.00 vs 2.75).

The Matsui Sakura Cask is better value at £125 vs £150.

For beginners: Famous Grouse 12 Year Old - Vintage 1989 is more approachable (70/100 beginner score).

Famous Grouse 12 Year Old - Vintage 1989

Pros

  • +Great entry point for new whisky drinkers
  • +Better value for money
  • +Higher community rating (5.0/5)

Cons

  • More expensive (£150 vs £125)

The Matsui Sakura Cask

Pros

  • +Great entry point for new whisky drinkers
  • +More affordable (£125 vs £150)
  • +Vibrant, fresh fruit character

Cons

  • Lower community rating (2.8 vs 5.0)

Who should buy Famous?

Famous Grouse 12 Year Old - Vintage 1989 suits whisky enthusiasts looking for a well-rounded, complex dram. It rewards those with some experience and an appreciation for Other Scotch character.

Who should buy The?

The Matsui Sakura Cask suits whisky enthusiasts looking for a well-rounded, complex dram. It rewards those with some experience and an appreciation for Single Malt character.

Tasting notes

Both taste of

VanillaToasted

Only Famous Grouse 12 Year Old - Vintage 1989

HoneyMalt ExtractSherried

Only The Matsui Sakura Cask

Fresh Fruit

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