Johnnie Walker Blue Label - Cities Of The Future City X Mars 2220 vs Caol Ila 17 Year Old 1997 Unpeated (Special Release 2015)

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

Johnnie Walker Blue Label - Cities Of The Future City X Mars 2220Caol Ila 17 Year Old 1997 Unpeated (Special Release 2015)
DistilleryJohnnie WalkerCaol Ila
RegionOther ScotchIslay
CountryScotlandScotland
TypeBlendedSingle Malt
ABV40%55.9%
AgeNAS17 yr
Price£277.21£250
Rating5.00/5

Johnnie Walker Blue Label - Cities Of The Future City X Mars 2220

Smoke0/100
Sweetness66/100
Beginner85/100
Value0/100

Caol Ila 17 Year Old 1997 Unpeated (Special Release 2015)

Smoke0/100
Sweetness58/100
Beginner35/100
Value20/100

Johnnie Walker Blue Label - Cities Of The Future City X Mars 2220

SmokySweetFruitySpicyWoodyFloral

Caol Ila 17 Year Old 1997 Unpeated (Special Release 2015)

SmokySweetFruitySpicyWoodyFloral

Quick verdict

Caol Ila 17 Year Old 1997 Unpeated (Special Release 2015) is rated higher (5.00 vs 0.00).

Caol Ila 17 Year Old 1997 Unpeated (Special Release 2015) is better value at £250 vs £277.

For beginners: Johnnie Walker Blue Label - Cities Of The Future City X Mars 2220 is more approachable (85/100 beginner score).

Johnnie Walker Blue Label - Cities Of The Future City X Mars 2220

Pros

  • +Approachable and beginner-friendly sweetness
  • +Great entry point for new whisky drinkers

Cons

  • More expensive (£277.21 vs £250)
  • Lower community rating (0.0 vs 5.0)

Caol Ila 17 Year Old 1997 Unpeated (Special Release 2015)

Pros

  • +Better value for money
  • +Higher community rating (5.0/5)
  • +More affordable (£250 vs £277.21)
  • +More widely reviewed by the community

Cons

  • High ABV (55.9%) — may need water

Who should buy Johnnie?

Johnnie Walker Blue Label - Cities Of The Future City X Mars 2220 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.

Who should buy Caol?

Caol Ila 17 Year Old 1997 Unpeated (Special Release 2015) 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.

Tasting notes

Both taste of

Honey

Only Johnnie Walker Blue Label - Cities Of The Future City X Mars 2220

VanillaOld WoodSherriedToasted

Only Caol Ila 17 Year Old 1997 Unpeated (Special Release 2015)

CitricFresh FruitMalt Extract

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