Glenrothes 17 Year Old Single Malt - Living Souls vs The Lakes Whiskymaker's Reserve No.5

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

Glenrothes 17 Year Old Single Malt - Living SoulsThe Lakes Whiskymaker's Reserve No.5
DistilleryGlenrothesThe Lakes Distillery
RegionSpeyside
CountryScotlandEngland
TypeSingle MaltSingle Malt
ABV51.5%52%
Age17 yrNAS
Price£118.49£84.95
Rating5.00/5

Glenrothes 17 Year Old Single Malt - Living Souls

Smoke0/100
Sweetness52/100
Beginner45/100
Value0/100

The Lakes Whiskymaker's Reserve No.5

Smoke0/100
Sweetness66/100
Beginner65/100
Value59/100

Glenrothes 17 Year Old Single Malt - Living Souls

SmokySweetFruitySpicyWoodyFloral

The Lakes Whiskymaker's Reserve No.5

SmokySweetFruitySpicyWoodyFloral

Quick verdict

The Lakes Whiskymaker's Reserve No.5 is rated higher (5.00 vs 0.00).

The Lakes Whiskymaker's Reserve No.5 is better value at £85 vs £118.

For beginners: The Lakes Whiskymaker's Reserve No.5 is more approachable (65/100 beginner score).

Glenrothes 17 Year Old Single Malt - Living Souls

Pros

  • +Vibrant, fresh fruit character

Cons

  • High ABV (51.5%) — may need water
  • More expensive (£118.49 vs £84.95)
  • Lower community rating (0.0 vs 5.0)

The Lakes Whiskymaker's Reserve No.5

Pros

  • +Approachable and beginner-friendly sweetness
  • +Better value for money
  • +Higher community rating (5.0/5)
  • +More affordable (£84.95 vs £118.49)

Cons

  • High ABV (52%) — may need water

Who should buy Glenrothes?

Glenrothes 17 Year Old Single Malt - Living Souls 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 The?

The Lakes Whiskymaker's Reserve No.5 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.

Tasting notes

Both taste of

Sherried

Only Glenrothes 17 Year Old Single Malt - Living Souls

ChocolateDried FruitNuttyCooked Fruit

Only The Lakes Whiskymaker's Reserve No.5

VanillaToastedHoney

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