Secret Highland 15 Year Old 2009 (North Star Spirits) vs Speyside & Lowland - Double Barrel (Douglas Laing) (Old Bottling)

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

Secret Highland 15 Year Old 2009 (North Star Spirits)Speyside & Lowland - Double Barrel (Douglas Laing) (Old Bottling)
DistilleryNorth Star SpiritsDouglas Laing
Region
CountryScotlandScotland
TypeSingle MaltBlended Malt
ABV54.3%46%
Age15 yrNAS
Price£49.95£36.52
Rating5.00/5

Secret Highland 15 Year Old 2009 (North Star Spirits)

Smoke0/100
Sweetness49/100
Beginner50/100
Value0/100

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

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

Secret Highland 15 Year Old 2009 (North Star Spirits)

SmokySweetFruitySpicyWoodyFloral

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

SmokySweetFruitySpicyWoodyFloral

Quick verdict

Speyside & Lowland - Double Barrel (Douglas Laing) (Old Bottling) is rated higher (5.00 vs 0.00).

Speyside & Lowland - Double Barrel (Douglas Laing) (Old Bottling) is better value at £37 vs £50.

For beginners: Speyside & Lowland - Double Barrel (Douglas Laing) (Old Bottling) is more approachable (75/100 beginner score).

Secret Highland 15 Year Old 2009 (North Star Spirits)

Pros

  • +Distinctive flavour profile appreciated by enthusiasts

Cons

  • High ABV (54.3%) — may need water
  • More expensive (£49.95 vs £36.52)
  • Lower community rating (0.0 vs 5.0)

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

Pros

  • +Great entry point for new whisky drinkers
  • +Better value for money
  • +Higher community rating (5.0/5)
  • +More affordable (£36.52 vs £49.95)

Cons

  • Niche style — may not suit all palates

Who should buy Secret?

Secret Highland 15 Year Old 2009 (North Star Spirits) 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 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

Malt ExtractFresh Fruit

Only Secret Highland 15 Year Old 2009 (North Star Spirits)

Hay-likeHoneyFragant

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

Vanilla

Explore more