Girvan 30 Year Old 1988 (cask 12800) - Old Particular (Douglas Laing) vs Glen Grant 20 Year Old 1992 (cask 446106) - The Octave (Duncan Taylor)

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

Girvan 30 Year Old 1988 (cask 12800) - Old Particular (Douglas Laing)Glen Grant 20 Year Old 1992 (cask 446106) - The Octave (Duncan Taylor)
DistilleryGirvanGlen Grant
RegionLowlandSpeyside
CountryScotlandScotland
TypeGrainSingle Malt
ABV51.5%52.5%
Age30 yr20 yr
Price£96.45£106.37
Rating5.00/5

Girvan 30 Year Old 1988 (cask 12800) - Old Particular (Douglas Laing)

Smoke0/100
Sweetness40/100
Beginner50/100
Value0/100

Glen Grant 20 Year Old 1992 (cask 446106) - The Octave (Duncan Taylor)

Smoke0/100
Sweetness63/100
Beginner45/100
Value47/100

Girvan 30 Year Old 1988 (cask 12800) - Old Particular (Douglas Laing)

SmokySweetFruitySpicyWoodyFloral

Glen Grant 20 Year Old 1992 (cask 446106) - The Octave (Duncan Taylor)

SmokySweetFruitySpicyWoodyFloral

Quick verdict

Glen Grant 20 Year Old 1992 (cask 446106) - The Octave (Duncan Taylor) is rated higher (5.00 vs 0.00).

Girvan 30 Year Old 1988 (cask 12800) - Old Particular (Douglas Laing) is better value at £96 vs £106.

For beginners: Girvan 30 Year Old 1988 (cask 12800) - Old Particular (Douglas Laing) is more approachable (50/100 beginner score).

Girvan 30 Year Old 1988 (cask 12800) - Old Particular (Douglas Laing)

Pros

  • +More affordable (£96.45 vs £106.37)
  • +Longer maturation (30 vs 20 years)

Cons

  • High ABV (51.5%) — may need water
  • Lower community rating (0.0 vs 5.0)

Glen Grant 20 Year Old 1992 (cask 446106) - The Octave (Duncan Taylor)

Pros

  • +Better value for money
  • +Higher community rating (5.0/5)
  • +More widely reviewed by the community

Cons

  • High ABV (52.5%) — may need water
  • More expensive (£106.37 vs £96.45)

Who should buy Girvan?

Girvan 30 Year Old 1988 (cask 12800) - Old Particular (Douglas Laing) 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.

Who should buy Glen?

Glen Grant 20 Year Old 1992 (cask 446106) - The Octave (Duncan Taylor) 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

Only Girvan 30 Year Old 1988 (cask 12800) - Old Particular (Douglas Laing)

Old WoodOilyNuttyYeastyMalt Extract

Only Glen Grant 20 Year Old 1992 (cask 446106) - The Octave (Duncan Taylor)

SherriedVanillaCooked FruitHoneyToasted

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