Balvenie 21 Year Old PortWood Finish vs Teeling 21 Year Old - Rising Reserve No.2 Marsala Cask

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

Balvenie 21 Year Old PortWood FinishTeeling 21 Year Old - Rising Reserve No.2 Marsala Cask
DistilleryBalvenieTeeling
RegionSpeyside
CountryScotlandIreland
TypeSingle MaltSingle Malt
ABV40%46%
Age21 yr21 yr
Price£221.5£175.95
Rating4.46/55.00/5

Balvenie 21 Year Old PortWood Finish

Smoke0/100
Sweetness61/100
Beginner70/100
Value20/100

Teeling 21 Year Old - Rising Reserve No.2 Marsala Cask

Smoke0/100
Sweetness58/100
Beginner60/100
Value28/100

Balvenie 21 Year Old PortWood Finish

SmokySweetFruitySpicyWoodyFloral

Teeling 21 Year Old - Rising Reserve No.2 Marsala Cask

SmokySweetFruitySpicyWoodyFloral

Quick verdict

Teeling 21 Year Old - Rising Reserve No.2 Marsala Cask is rated higher (5.00 vs 4.46).

Teeling 21 Year Old - Rising Reserve No.2 Marsala Cask is better value at £176 vs £222.

For beginners: Balvenie 21 Year Old PortWood Finish is more approachable (70/100 beginner score).

Balvenie 21 Year Old PortWood Finish

Pros

  • +Great entry point for new whisky drinkers
  • +More widely reviewed by the community
  • +Vibrant, fresh fruit character

Cons

  • More expensive (£221.5 vs £175.95)
  • Lower community rating (4.5 vs 5.0)

Teeling 21 Year Old - Rising Reserve No.2 Marsala Cask

Pros

  • +Better value for money
  • +Higher community rating (5.0/5)
  • +More affordable (£175.95 vs £221.5)
  • +Vibrant, fresh fruit character

Cons

  • Niche style — may not suit all palates

Who should buy Balvenie?

Balvenie 21 Year Old PortWood Finish suits whisky enthusiasts looking for a well-rounded, complex dram. It rewards those with some experience and an appreciation for Speyside character.

Who should buy Teeling?

Teeling 21 Year Old - Rising Reserve No.2 Marsala Cask suits whisky enthusiasts looking for a well-rounded, complex dram. It rewards those with some experience and an appreciation for Single Malt character.

Tasting notes

Both taste of

Sherried

Only Balvenie 21 Year Old PortWood Finish

Fresh FruitHoneyVanillaToasted

Only Teeling 21 Year Old - Rising Reserve No.2 Marsala Cask

Dried FruitCooked FruitChocolate

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