Hibiki 21 Year Old vs Isle of Jura 33 Year Old 1989 (cask 1580) - Connoisseurs Choice (Gordon & MacPhail)

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

Hibiki 21 Year OldIsle of Jura 33 Year Old 1989 (cask 1580) - Connoisseurs Choice (Gordon & MacPhail)
DistilleryHibikiJura
RegionIsland
CountryJapanScotland
TypeBlendedSingle Malt
ABV43%51.5%
Age21 yr33 yr
Price£750£783.5
Rating5.00/5

Hibiki 21 Year Old

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

Isle of Jura 33 Year Old 1989 (cask 1580) - Connoisseurs Choice (Gordon & MacPhail)

Smoke0/100
Sweetness40/100
Beginner45/100
Value0/100

Hibiki 21 Year Old

SmokySweetFruitySpicyWoodyFloral

Isle of Jura 33 Year Old 1989 (cask 1580) - Connoisseurs Choice (Gordon & MacPhail)

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 £784.

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

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

Isle of Jura 33 Year Old 1989 (cask 1580) - Connoisseurs Choice (Gordon & MacPhail)

Pros

  • +Longer maturation (33 vs 21 years)

Cons

  • High ABV (51.5%) — may need water
  • More expensive (£783.5 vs £750)
  • Lower community rating (0.0 vs 5.0)

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.

Who should buy Isle?

Isle of Jura 33 Year Old 1989 (cask 1580) - Connoisseurs Choice (Gordon & MacPhail) 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

Only Hibiki 21 Year Old

HoneyVanillaDried Fruit

Only Isle of Jura 33 Year Old 1989 (cask 1580) - Connoisseurs Choice (Gordon & MacPhail)

Old WoodMalt ExtractOilyNuttySandy

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