Wemyss Malts 25 Year Old - A Quarter Passed vs Kininvie 17 Year Old 1996 (Batch 1)

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

Wemyss Malts 25 Year Old - A Quarter PassedKininvie 17 Year Old 1996 (Batch 1)
DistilleryWemyss MaltsKininvie
RegionSpeyside
CountryScotlandScotland
TypeBlended MaltSingle Malt
ABV53.6%42.6%
Age25 yr17 yr
Price£187.29£120
Rating5.00/5

Wemyss Malts 25 Year Old - A Quarter Passed

Smoke0/100
Sweetness64/100
Beginner45/100
Value0/100

Kininvie 17 Year Old 1996 (Batch 1)

Smoke0/100
Sweetness66/100
Beginner85/100
Value42/100

Wemyss Malts 25 Year Old - A Quarter Passed

SmokySweetFruitySpicyWoodyFloral

Kininvie 17 Year Old 1996 (Batch 1)

SmokySweetFruitySpicyWoodyFloral

Quick verdict

Kininvie 17 Year Old 1996 (Batch 1) is rated higher (5.00 vs 0.00).

Kininvie 17 Year Old 1996 (Batch 1) is better value at £120 vs £187.

For beginners: Kininvie 17 Year Old 1996 (Batch 1) is more approachable (85/100 beginner score).

Wemyss Malts 25 Year Old - A Quarter Passed

Pros

  • +Longer maturation (25 vs 17 years)
  • +Vibrant, fresh fruit character
  • +Rich oak and wood spice complexity

Cons

  • High ABV (53.6%) — may need water
  • More expensive (£187.29 vs £120)
  • Lower community rating (0.0 vs 5.0)

Kininvie 17 Year Old 1996 (Batch 1)

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 Wemyss?

Wemyss Malts 25 Year Old - A Quarter Passed 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 Kininvie?

Kininvie 17 Year Old 1996 (Batch 1) 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

VanillaHoney

Only Wemyss Malts 25 Year Old - A Quarter Passed

Old WoodDried FruitToasted

Only Kininvie 17 Year Old 1996 (Batch 1)

Fresh FruitMalt ExtractCitric

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