Balblair 20 Year Old 1990 (Bladnoch) vs Aberlour 23 Year Old Small Batch (WM Cadenhead)
Side-by-side comparison — price, ABV, scores, tasting notes, pros & cons.
Balblair 20 Year Old 1990 (Bladnoch)
Balblair
★ 5.00
£60
Aberlour 23 Year Old Small Batch (WM Cadenhead)
Aberlour
£80
| Balblair 20 Year Old 1990 (Bladnoch) | Aberlour 23 Year Old Small Batch (WM Cadenhead) | |
|---|---|---|
| Distillery | Balblair | Aberlour |
| Region | Highland | Speyside |
| Country | Scotland | Scotland |
| Type | Single Malt | Single Malt |
| ABV | 53.7% | 54.9% |
| Age | 20 yr | 23 yr |
| Price | £60.45 | £79.71 |
| Rating | 5.00/5 | — |
Balblair 20 Year Old 1990 (Bladnoch)
Aberlour 23 Year Old Small Batch (WM Cadenhead)
Balblair 20 Year Old 1990 (Bladnoch)
Aberlour 23 Year Old Small Batch (WM Cadenhead)
Quick verdict
Balblair 20 Year Old 1990 (Bladnoch) is rated higher (5.00 vs 0.00).
Balblair 20 Year Old 1990 (Bladnoch) is better value at £60 vs £80.
For beginners: Balblair 20 Year Old 1990 (Bladnoch) is more approachable (65/100 beginner score).
Balblair 20 Year Old 1990 (Bladnoch)
Pros
- +Approachable and beginner-friendly sweetness
- +Better value for money
- +Higher community rating (5.0/5)
- +More affordable (£60.45 vs £79.71)
Cons
- −High ABV (53.7%) — may need water
Aberlour 23 Year Old Small Batch (WM Cadenhead)
Pros
- +Longer maturation (23 vs 20 years)
Cons
- −High ABV (54.9%) — may need water
- −More expensive (£79.71 vs £60.45)
- −Lower community rating (0.0 vs 5.0)
Who should buy Balblair?
Balblair 20 Year Old 1990 (Bladnoch) suits those who enjoy sweet, honeyed, or fruity whiskies. It's accessible for beginners and crowd-pleasing enough for gifts. Fans of approachable Speyside or Irish whiskey will love it.
Who should buy Aberlour?
Aberlour 23 Year Old Small Batch (WM Cadenhead) 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
Only Balblair 20 Year Old 1990 (Bladnoch)
Only Aberlour 23 Year Old Small Batch (WM Cadenhead)
Where to buy
Balblair 20 Year Old 1990 (Bladnoch)
Where to buy
The Whisky Exchange
Aberlour 23 Year Old Small Batch (WM Cadenhead)
Where to buy
The Whisky Exchange