Girvan 30 Year Old 1988 (cask 12800) - Old Particular (Douglas Laing) vs Glen Spey 21 Year Old (Special Release 2010)

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

Girvan 30 Year Old 1988 (cask 12800) - Old Particular (Douglas Laing)Glen Spey 21 Year Old (Special Release 2010)
DistilleryGirvanGlen Spey
RegionLowlandSpeyside
CountryScotlandScotland
TypeGrainSingle Malt
ABV51.5%50.4%
Age30 yr21 yr
Price£96.45£133.99
Rating5.00/5

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

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

Glen Spey 21 Year Old (Special Release 2010)

Smoke0/100
Sweetness72/100
Beginner60/100
Value37/100

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

SmokySweetFruitySpicyWoodyFloral

Glen Spey 21 Year Old (Special Release 2010)

SmokySweetFruitySpicyWoodyFloral

Quick verdict

Glen Spey 21 Year Old (Special Release 2010) 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 £134.

For beginners: Glen Spey 21 Year Old (Special Release 2010) is more approachable (60/100 beginner score).

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

Pros

  • +More affordable (£96.45 vs £133.99)
  • +Longer maturation (30 vs 21 years)

Cons

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

Glen Spey 21 Year Old (Special Release 2010)

Pros

  • +Approachable and beginner-friendly sweetness
  • +Better value for money
  • +Higher community rating (5.0/5)
  • +More widely reviewed by the community

Cons

  • High ABV (50.4%) — may need water
  • More expensive (£133.99 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 Spey 21 Year Old (Special Release 2010) suits those who enjoy sweet, honeyed, or fruity whiskies. It's accessible for beginners and crowd-pleasing enough for gifts. Fans of approachable Speyside or Irish whiskey will love it.

Tasting notes

Both taste of

Old Wood

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

OilyNuttyYeastyMalt Extract

Only Glen Spey 21 Year Old (Special Release 2010)

Fresh FruitCitricVanillaHoney

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