Famous Grouse Highland Decanter vs New Riff Single Barrel Rye (52.1%)

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

Famous Grouse Highland DecanterNew Riff Single Barrel Rye (52.1%)
DistilleryFamous GrouseNew Riff
RegionOther Scotch
CountryScotlandAmerica
TypeBlendedRye
ABV40%52.1%
AgeNASNAS
Price£99.99£74.64
Rating5.00/5

Famous Grouse Highland Decanter

Smoke0/100
Sweetness64/100
Beginner75/100
Value50/100

New Riff Single Barrel Rye (52.1%)

Smoke0/100
Sweetness60/100
Beginner50/100
Value0/100

Famous Grouse Highland Decanter

SmokySweetFruitySpicyWoodyFloral

New Riff Single Barrel Rye (52.1%)

SmokySweetFruitySpicyWoodyFloral

Quick verdict

Famous Grouse Highland Decanter is rated higher (5.00 vs 0.00).

New Riff Single Barrel Rye (52.1%) is better value at £75 vs £100.

For beginners: Famous Grouse Highland Decanter is more approachable (75/100 beginner score).

Famous Grouse Highland Decanter

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 (£99.99 vs £74.64)

New Riff Single Barrel Rye (52.1%)

Pros

  • +More affordable (£74.64 vs £99.99)
  • +Rich oak and wood spice complexity

Cons

  • High ABV (52.1%) — may need water
  • Lower community rating (0.0 vs 5.0)

Who should buy Famous?

Famous Grouse Highland Decanter 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.

Who should buy New?

New Riff Single Barrel Rye (52.1%) 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

VanillaToasted

Only Famous Grouse Highland Decanter

Malt ExtractHoney

Only New Riff Single Barrel Rye (52.1%)

New Wood

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