AE Dor No.5 / 1840 Vintage / Louis Philippe / Bot.1980s vs The Balvenie 40 Year Old

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

AE Dor No.5 / 1840 Vintage / Louis Philippe / Bot.1980sThe Balvenie 40 Year Old
DistilleryAE DorBalvenie
RegionSpeyside
CountryUnited KingdomScotland
TypeSingle Malt
ABV40%42.2%
AgeNAS40 yr
Price£11000£7225
Rating4.80/5

AE Dor No.5 / 1840 Vintage / Louis Philippe / Bot.1980s

Smoke0/100
Sweetness60/100
Beginner70/100
Value0/100

The Balvenie 40 Year Old

Smoke0/100
Sweetness78/100
Beginner85/100
Value1/100

AE Dor No.5 / 1840 Vintage / Louis Philippe / Bot.1980s

SmokySweetFruitySpicyWoodyFloral

The Balvenie 40 Year Old

SmokySweetFruitySpicyWoodyFloral

Quick verdict

The Balvenie 40 Year Old is rated higher (4.80 vs 0.00).

The Balvenie 40 Year Old is better value at £7225 vs £11000.

For beginners: The Balvenie 40 Year Old is more approachable (85/100 beginner score).

AE Dor No.5 / 1840 Vintage / Louis Philippe / Bot.1980s

Pros

  • +Great entry point for new whisky drinkers
  • +Rich oak and wood spice complexity

Cons

  • More expensive (£11000 vs £7225)
  • Lower community rating (0.0 vs 4.8)

The Balvenie 40 Year Old

Pros

  • +Approachable and beginner-friendly sweetness
  • +Great entry point for new whisky drinkers
  • +Better value for money
  • +Higher community rating (4.8/5)

Cons

  • Niche style — may not suit all palates

Who should buy AE?

AE Dor No.5 / 1840 Vintage / Louis Philippe / Bot.1980s suits whisky enthusiasts looking for a well-rounded, complex dram. It rewards those with some experience and an appreciation for character.

Who should buy The?

The Balvenie 40 Year Old 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

Old WoodVanilla

Only AE Dor No.5 / 1840 Vintage / Louis Philippe / Bot.1980s

Toasted

Only The Balvenie 40 Year Old

SherriedHoney

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