Famous Grouse 12 Year Old - Vintage 1989 vs Tomatin 18 Year Old 2006 (cask 3898) - Connoisseurs Choice (Gordon & MacPhail)

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

Famous Grouse 12 Year Old - Vintage 1989Tomatin 18 Year Old 2006 (cask 3898) - Connoisseurs Choice (Gordon & MacPhail)
DistilleryFamous GrouseTomatin
RegionOther ScotchHighland
CountryScotlandScotland
TypeBlendedSingle Malt
ABV40%54.3%
Age12 yr18 yr
Price£150£139.95
Rating5.00/5

Famous Grouse 12 Year Old - Vintage 1989

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

Tomatin 18 Year Old 2006 (cask 3898) - Connoisseurs Choice (Gordon & MacPhail)

Smoke0/100
Sweetness59/100
Beginner45/100
Value0/100

Famous Grouse 12 Year Old - Vintage 1989

SmokySweetFruitySpicyWoodyFloral

Tomatin 18 Year Old 2006 (cask 3898) - Connoisseurs Choice (Gordon & MacPhail)

SmokySweetFruitySpicyWoodyFloral

Quick verdict

Famous Grouse 12 Year Old - Vintage 1989 is rated higher (5.00 vs 0.00).

Tomatin 18 Year Old 2006 (cask 3898) - Connoisseurs Choice (Gordon & MacPhail) is better value at £140 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)
  • +More widely reviewed by the community

Cons

  • More expensive (£150 vs £139.95)

Tomatin 18 Year Old 2006 (cask 3898) - Connoisseurs Choice (Gordon & MacPhail)

Pros

  • +More affordable (£139.95 vs £150)
  • +Longer maturation (18 vs 12 years)

Cons

  • High ABV (54.3%) — may need water
  • Lower community rating (0.0 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 Tomatin?

Tomatin 18 Year Old 2006 (cask 3898) - Connoisseurs Choice (Gordon & MacPhail) 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.

Tasting notes

Both taste of

HoneyVanillaMalt ExtractToasted

Only Famous Grouse 12 Year Old - Vintage 1989

Sherried

Only Tomatin 18 Year Old 2006 (cask 3898) - Connoisseurs Choice (Gordon & MacPhail)

Fresh Fruit

Where to buy

Famous Grouse 12 Year Old - Vintage 1989

Tomatin 18 Year Old 2006 (cask 3898) - Connoisseurs Choice (Gordon & MacPhail)

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