SMWS 20.17 (Inverleven) / 1978 / 23 Year Old Lowland Whisky vs Glengoyne 25 Year Old 1968 Vintage Reserve

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

SMWS 20.17 (Inverleven) / 1978 / 23 Year Old Lowland WhiskyGlengoyne 25 Year Old 1968 Vintage Reserve
DistilleryInverlevenGlengoyne
RegionHighland
CountryUnited KingdomScotland
TypeSingle Malt
ABV40%50.3%
AgeNAS25 yr
Price£850£995
Rating5.00/5

SMWS 20.17 (Inverleven) / 1978 / 23 Year Old Lowland Whisky

Smoke0/100
Sweetness45/100
Beginner70/100
Value0/100

Glengoyne 25 Year Old 1968 Vintage Reserve

Smoke0/100
Sweetness59/100
Beginner45/100
Value5/100

SMWS 20.17 (Inverleven) / 1978 / 23 Year Old Lowland Whisky

SmokySweetFruitySpicyWoodyFloral

Glengoyne 25 Year Old 1968 Vintage Reserve

SmokySweetFruitySpicyWoodyFloral

Quick verdict

Glengoyne 25 Year Old 1968 Vintage Reserve is rated higher (5.00 vs 0.00).

SMWS 20.17 (Inverleven) / 1978 / 23 Year Old Lowland Whisky is better value at £850 vs £995.

For beginners: SMWS 20.17 (Inverleven) / 1978 / 23 Year Old Lowland Whisky is more approachable (70/100 beginner score).

SMWS 20.17 (Inverleven) / 1978 / 23 Year Old Lowland Whisky

Pros

  • +Great entry point for new whisky drinkers
  • +More affordable (£850 vs £995)
  • +Vibrant, fresh fruit character

Cons

  • Lower community rating (0.0 vs 5.0)

Glengoyne 25 Year Old 1968 Vintage Reserve

Pros

  • +Better value for money
  • +Higher community rating (5.0/5)
  • +More widely reviewed by the community

Cons

  • High ABV (50.3%) — may need water
  • More expensive (£995 vs £850)

Who should buy SMWS?

SMWS 20.17 (Inverleven) / 1978 / 23 Year Old Lowland Whisky suits whisky enthusiasts looking for a well-rounded, complex dram. It rewards those with some experience and an appreciation for character.

Who should buy Glengoyne?

Glengoyne 25 Year Old 1968 Vintage Reserve 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

Fresh Fruit

Only SMWS 20.17 (Inverleven) / 1978 / 23 Year Old Lowland Whisky

CitricCooked Fruit

Only Glengoyne 25 Year Old 1968 Vintage Reserve

Malt ExtractHoneyVanillaToasted

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