Banff 37 Year Old 1971 - Old & Rare Platinum (Douglas Laing) vs Hibiki 21 Year Old

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

Banff 37 Year Old 1971 - Old & Rare Platinum (Douglas Laing)Hibiki 21 Year Old
DistilleryBanffHibiki
RegionSpeyside
CountryScotlandJapan
TypeSingle MaltBlended
ABV53%43%
Age37 yr21 yr
Price£1200£750
Rating5.00/5

Banff 37 Year Old 1971 - Old & Rare Platinum (Douglas Laing)

Smoke0/100
Sweetness55/100
Beginner45/100
Value0/100

Hibiki 21 Year Old

Smoke0/100
Sweetness75/100
Beginner85/100
Value7/100

Banff 37 Year Old 1971 - Old & Rare Platinum (Douglas Laing)

SmokySweetFruitySpicyWoodyFloral

Hibiki 21 Year Old

SmokySweetFruitySpicyWoodyFloral

Quick verdict

Hibiki 21 Year Old is rated higher (5.00 vs 0.00).

Hibiki 21 Year Old is better value at £750 vs £1200.

For beginners: Hibiki 21 Year Old is more approachable (85/100 beginner score).

Banff 37 Year Old 1971 - Old & Rare Platinum (Douglas Laing)

Pros

  • +Longer maturation (37 vs 21 years)
  • +Vibrant, fresh fruit character

Cons

  • High ABV (53%) — may need water
  • More expensive (£1200 vs £750)
  • Lower community rating (0.0 vs 5.0)

Hibiki 21 Year Old

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 Banff?

Banff 37 Year Old 1971 - Old & Rare Platinum (Douglas Laing) 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 Hibiki?

Hibiki 21 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

Dried Fruit

Only Banff 37 Year Old 1971 - Old & Rare Platinum (Douglas Laing)

Old WoodSherriedTobacco

Only Hibiki 21 Year Old

HoneyVanilla

Explore more