Cragganmore 30 Year Old 1985 (bottled 2015) - Old & Rare Platinum (Hunter Laing) vs Johnnie Walker Blue Label - Ghost & Rare Glenury Royal

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

Cragganmore 30 Year Old 1985 (bottled 2015) - Old & Rare Platinum (Hunter Laing)Johnnie Walker Blue Label - Ghost & Rare Glenury Royal
DistilleryCragganmoreJohnnie Walker
RegionSpeysideOther Scotch
CountryScotlandScotland
TypeSingle MaltBlended
ABV50.3%43.8%
Age30 yrNAS
Price£295.87£399
Rating5.00/5

Cragganmore 30 Year Old 1985 (bottled 2015) - Old & Rare Platinum (Hunter Laing)

Smoke0/100
Sweetness64/100
Beginner45/100
Value0/100

Johnnie Walker Blue Label - Ghost & Rare Glenury Royal

Smoke0/100
Sweetness58/100
Beginner60/100
Value13/100

Cragganmore 30 Year Old 1985 (bottled 2015) - Old & Rare Platinum (Hunter Laing)

SmokySweetFruitySpicyWoodyFloral

Johnnie Walker Blue Label - Ghost & Rare Glenury Royal

SmokySweetFruitySpicyWoodyFloral

Quick verdict

Johnnie Walker Blue Label - Ghost & Rare Glenury Royal is rated higher (5.00 vs 0.00).

Cragganmore 30 Year Old 1985 (bottled 2015) - Old & Rare Platinum (Hunter Laing) is better value at £296 vs £399.

For beginners: Johnnie Walker Blue Label - Ghost & Rare Glenury Royal is more approachable (60/100 beginner score).

Cragganmore 30 Year Old 1985 (bottled 2015) - Old & Rare Platinum (Hunter Laing)

Pros

  • +More affordable (£295.87 vs £399)
  • +Rich oak and wood spice complexity

Cons

  • High ABV (50.3%) — may need water
  • Lower community rating (0.0 vs 5.0)

Johnnie Walker Blue Label - Ghost & Rare Glenury Royal

Pros

  • +Better value for money
  • +Higher community rating (5.0/5)
  • +More widely reviewed by the community
  • +Vibrant, fresh fruit character

Cons

  • More expensive (£399 vs £295.87)

Who should buy Cragganmore?

Cragganmore 30 Year Old 1985 (bottled 2015) - Old & Rare Platinum (Hunter 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 Johnnie?

Johnnie Walker Blue Label - Ghost & Rare Glenury Royal suits whisky enthusiasts looking for a well-rounded, complex dram. It rewards those with some experience and an appreciation for Other Scotch character.

Tasting notes

Both taste of

Old WoodVanilla

Only Cragganmore 30 Year Old 1985 (bottled 2015) - Old & Rare Platinum (Hunter Laing)

HoneyMalt ExtractNutty

Only Johnnie Walker Blue Label - Ghost & Rare Glenury Royal

SherriedDried FruitToasted

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