Highland Park 18 Year Old 1995 (cask 10161) - Old Particular (Douglas Laing) vs Linkwood 12 Year Old 2008 (cask 300865) - Folk (Fable Whisky)

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

Highland Park 18 Year Old 1995 (cask 10161) - Old Particular (Douglas Laing)Linkwood 12 Year Old 2008 (cask 300865) - Folk (Fable Whisky)
DistilleryHighland ParkLinkwood
RegionIslandSpeyside
CountryScotlandScotland
TypeSingle MaltSingle Malt
ABV48.4%54.9%
Age18 yr12 yr
Price£102.67£82.95
Rating5.00/5

Highland Park 18 Year Old 1995 (cask 10161) - Old Particular (Douglas Laing)

Smoke64/100
Sweetness71/100
Beginner60/100
Value0/100

Linkwood 12 Year Old 2008 (cask 300865) - Folk (Fable Whisky)

Smoke0/100
Sweetness59/100
Beginner50/100
Value60/100

Highland Park 18 Year Old 1995 (cask 10161) - Old Particular (Douglas Laing)

SmokySweetFruitySpicyWoodyFloral

Linkwood 12 Year Old 2008 (cask 300865) - Folk (Fable Whisky)

SmokySweetFruitySpicyWoodyFloral

Quick verdict

Linkwood 12 Year Old 2008 (cask 300865) - Folk (Fable Whisky) is rated higher (5.00 vs 0.00).

Linkwood 12 Year Old 2008 (cask 300865) - Folk (Fable Whisky) is better value at £83 vs £103.

For beginners: Highland Park 18 Year Old 1995 (cask 10161) - Old Particular (Douglas Laing) is more approachable (60/100 beginner score).

Highland Park 18 Year Old 1995 (cask 10161) - Old Particular (Douglas Laing)

Pros

  • +Balanced smoky character without being overwhelming
  • +Approachable and beginner-friendly sweetness
  • +Longer maturation (18 vs 12 years)
  • +Vibrant, fresh fruit character

Cons

  • More expensive (£102.67 vs £82.95)
  • Lower community rating (0.0 vs 5.0)

Linkwood 12 Year Old 2008 (cask 300865) - Folk (Fable Whisky)

Pros

  • +Better value for money
  • +Higher community rating (5.0/5)
  • +More affordable (£82.95 vs £102.67)
  • +More widely reviewed by the community

Cons

  • High ABV (54.9%) — may need water
  • Lacks smoke character compared to the alternative

Who should buy Highland?

Highland Park 18 Year Old 1995 (cask 10161) - Old Particular (Douglas Laing) 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 12 Year Old 2008 (cask 300865) - Folk (Fable Whisky) 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

HoneyVanilla

Only Highland Park 18 Year Old 1995 (cask 10161) - Old Particular (Douglas Laing)

SmokeyDried FruitSherried

Only Linkwood 12 Year Old 2008 (cask 300865) - Folk (Fable Whisky)

Malt ExtractToastedFresh Fruit

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