Imperial 33 Year Old 1989 (cask 2069) (Limited) vs Glenfiddich 21 Year Old - Havana Reserve

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

Imperial 33 Year Old 1989 (cask 2069) (Limited)Glenfiddich 21 Year Old - Havana Reserve
DistilleryImperialGlenfiddich
RegionSpeysideSpeyside
CountryScotlandScotland
TypeSingle MaltSingle Malt
ABV51.3%40%
Age33 yr21 yr
Price£729£499
Rating5.00/5

Imperial 33 Year Old 1989 (cask 2069) (Limited)

Smoke0/100
Sweetness37/100
Beginner40/100
Value0/100

Glenfiddich 21 Year Old - Havana Reserve

Smoke0/100
Sweetness71/100
Beginner85/100
Value10/100

Imperial 33 Year Old 1989 (cask 2069) (Limited)

SmokySweetFruitySpicyWoodyFloral

Glenfiddich 21 Year Old - Havana Reserve

SmokySweetFruitySpicyWoodyFloral

Quick verdict

Glenfiddich 21 Year Old - Havana Reserve is rated higher (5.00 vs 0.00).

Glenfiddich 21 Year Old - Havana Reserve is better value at £499 vs £729.

For beginners: Glenfiddich 21 Year Old - Havana Reserve is more approachable (85/100 beginner score).

Imperial 33 Year Old 1989 (cask 2069) (Limited)

Pros

  • +Longer maturation (33 vs 21 years)

Cons

  • High ABV (51.3%) — may need water
  • More expensive (£729 vs £499)
  • Lower community rating (0.0 vs 5.0)

Glenfiddich 21 Year Old - Havana Reserve

Pros

  • +Approachable and beginner-friendly sweetness
  • +Great entry point for new whisky drinkers
  • +Better value for money
  • +Higher community rating (5.0/5)

Cons

  • Niche style — may not suit all palates

Who should buy Imperial?

Imperial 33 Year Old 1989 (cask 2069) (Limited) 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 Glenfiddich?

Glenfiddich 21 Year Old - Havana Reserve 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

Only Imperial 33 Year Old 1989 (cask 2069) (Limited)

Old WoodToastedLeatheryNuttyMalt Extract

Only Glenfiddich 21 Year Old - Havana Reserve

SherriedHoneyVanillaCooked FruitTobacco

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