Balblair 20 Year Old 1990 (Bladnoch) vs Aberlour 21 Year Old 1995 (cask 13742) - The Old Malt Cask (Hunter Laing)

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

Balblair 20 Year Old 1990 (Bladnoch)Aberlour 21 Year Old 1995 (cask 13742) - The Old Malt Cask (Hunter Laing)
DistilleryBalblairAberlour
RegionHighlandSpeyside
CountryScotlandScotland
TypeSingle MaltSingle Malt
ABV53.7%50%
Age20 yr21 yr
Price£60.45£67.95
Rating5.00/5

Balblair 20 Year Old 1990 (Bladnoch)

Smoke0/100
Sweetness66/100
Beginner65/100
Value83/100

Aberlour 21 Year Old 1995 (cask 13742) - The Old Malt Cask (Hunter Laing)

Smoke0/100
Sweetness71/100
Beginner75/100
Value0/100

Balblair 20 Year Old 1990 (Bladnoch)

SmokySweetFruitySpicyWoodyFloral

Aberlour 21 Year Old 1995 (cask 13742) - The Old Malt Cask (Hunter Laing)

SmokySweetFruitySpicyWoodyFloral

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 £68.

For beginners: Aberlour 21 Year Old 1995 (cask 13742) - The Old Malt Cask (Hunter Laing) is more approachable (75/100 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 £67.95)

Cons

  • High ABV (53.7%) — may need water

Aberlour 21 Year Old 1995 (cask 13742) - The Old Malt Cask (Hunter Laing)

Pros

  • +Approachable and beginner-friendly sweetness
  • +Great entry point for new whisky drinkers
  • +Longer maturation (21 vs 20 years)
  • +Vibrant, fresh fruit character

Cons

  • More expensive (£67.95 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 21 Year Old 1995 (cask 13742) - The Old Malt Cask (Hunter Laing) 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

SherriedDried FruitHoneyOld Wood

Only Balblair 20 Year Old 1990 (Bladnoch)

Chocolate

Only Aberlour 21 Year Old 1995 (cask 13742) - The Old Malt Cask (Hunter Laing)

Vanilla

Where to buy

Balblair 20 Year Old 1990 (Bladnoch)

Aberlour 21 Year Old 1995 (cask 13742) - The Old Malt Cask (Hunter Laing)

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