Glen Spey 21 Year Old (Special Release 2010) vs Linkwood 15 Year Old - Distillery Labels (Gordon & MacPhail)

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

Glen Spey 21 Year Old (Special Release 2010)Linkwood 15 Year Old - Distillery Labels (Gordon & MacPhail)
DistilleryGlen SpeyLinkwood
RegionSpeysideSpeyside
CountryScotlandScotland
TypeSingle MaltSingle Malt
ABV50.4%46%
Age21 yr15 yr
Price£133.99£99.5
Rating5.00/55.00/5

Glen Spey 21 Year Old (Special Release 2010)

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

Linkwood 15 Year Old - Distillery Labels (Gordon & MacPhail)

Smoke0/100
Sweetness75/100
Beginner80/100
Value50/100

Glen Spey 21 Year Old (Special Release 2010)

SmokySweetFruitySpicyWoodyFloral

Linkwood 15 Year Old - Distillery Labels (Gordon & MacPhail)

SmokySweetFruitySpicyWoodyFloral

Quick verdict

Linkwood 15 Year Old - Distillery Labels (Gordon & MacPhail) is better value at £100 vs £134.

For beginners: Linkwood 15 Year Old - Distillery Labels (Gordon & MacPhail) is more approachable (80/100 beginner score).

Glen Spey 21 Year Old (Special Release 2010)

Pros

  • +Approachable and beginner-friendly sweetness
  • +Longer maturation (21 vs 15 years)
  • +More widely reviewed by the community
  • +Vibrant, fresh fruit character

Cons

  • High ABV (50.4%) — may need water
  • More expensive (£133.99 vs £99.5)

Linkwood 15 Year Old - Distillery Labels (Gordon & MacPhail)

Pros

  • +Approachable and beginner-friendly sweetness
  • +Great entry point for new whisky drinkers
  • +Better value for money
  • +More affordable (£99.5 vs £133.99)

Cons

  • Niche style — may not suit all palates

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.

Who should buy Linkwood?

Linkwood 15 Year Old - Distillery Labels (Gordon & MacPhail) 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.

Tasting notes

Both taste of

CitricVanillaHoney

Only Glen Spey 21 Year Old (Special Release 2010)

Fresh FruitOld Wood

Only Linkwood 15 Year Old - Distillery Labels (Gordon & MacPhail)

Malt Extract

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