North Highland 8 Year Old Blended Malt - Batch 2 (Thompson Bros.) vs Speyside & Lowland - Double Barrel (Douglas Laing) (Old Bottling)

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

North Highland 8 Year Old Blended Malt - Batch 2 (Thompson Bros.)Speyside & Lowland - Double Barrel (Douglas Laing) (Old Bottling)
DistilleryThompson Bros.Douglas Laing
Region
CountryScotlandScotland
TypeBlended MaltBlended Malt
ABV44.4%46%
Age8 yrNAS
Price£34.95£36.52
Rating5.00/55.00/5

North Highland 8 Year Old Blended Malt - Batch 2 (Thompson Bros.)

Smoke0/100
Sweetness66/100
Beginner90/100
Value100/100

Speyside & Lowland - Double Barrel (Douglas Laing) (Old Bottling)

Smoke0/100
Sweetness60/100
Beginner75/100
Value100/100

North Highland 8 Year Old Blended Malt - Batch 2 (Thompson Bros.)

SmokySweetFruitySpicyWoodyFloral

Speyside & Lowland - Double Barrel (Douglas Laing) (Old Bottling)

SmokySweetFruitySpicyWoodyFloral

Quick verdict

North Highland 8 Year Old Blended Malt - Batch 2 (Thompson Bros.) is better value at £35 vs £37.

For beginners: North Highland 8 Year Old Blended Malt - Batch 2 (Thompson Bros.) is more approachable (90/100 beginner score).

North Highland 8 Year Old Blended Malt - Batch 2 (Thompson Bros.)

Pros

  • +Approachable and beginner-friendly sweetness
  • +Great entry point for new whisky drinkers
  • +More affordable (£34.95 vs £36.52)

Cons

  • Niche style — may not suit all palates

Speyside & Lowland - Double Barrel (Douglas Laing) (Old Bottling)

Pros

  • +Great entry point for new whisky drinkers
  • +More widely reviewed by the community

Cons

  • More expensive (£36.52 vs £34.95)

Who should buy North?

North Highland 8 Year Old Blended Malt - Batch 2 (Thompson Bros.) 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 Speyside?

Speyside & Lowland - Double Barrel (Douglas Laing) (Old Bottling) 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

Fresh FruitMalt ExtractVanilla

Only North Highland 8 Year Old Blended Malt - Batch 2 (Thompson Bros.)

HoneyYeasty

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