Riserva Carlo Alberto L’artiglio Del Tigre / Small Bottle vs Balvenie DoubleWood 12 Year Old (20cl)

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

Riserva Carlo Alberto L’artiglio Del Tigre / Small BottleBalvenie DoubleWood 12 Year Old (20cl)
DistilleryRiserva Carlo AlbertoBalvenie
RegionSpeyside
CountryUnited KingdomScotland
TypeSingle Malt
ABV40%40%
AgeNAS12 yr
Price£16.95£20.95
Rating5.00/5

Riserva Carlo Alberto L’artiglio Del Tigre / Small Bottle

Smoke72/100
Sweetness0/100
Beginner50/100
Value0/100

Balvenie DoubleWood 12 Year Old (20cl)

Smoke0/100
Sweetness63/100
Beginner85/100
Value100/100

Riserva Carlo Alberto L’artiglio Del Tigre / Small Bottle

SmokySweetFruitySpicyWoodyFloral

Balvenie DoubleWood 12 Year Old (20cl)

SmokySweetFruitySpicyWoodyFloral

Quick verdict

Balvenie DoubleWood 12 Year Old (20cl) is rated higher (5.00 vs 0.00).

Riserva Carlo Alberto L’artiglio Del Tigre / Small Bottle is better value at £17 vs £21.

For beginners: Balvenie DoubleWood 12 Year Old (20cl) is more approachable (85/100 beginner score).

Riserva Carlo Alberto L’artiglio Del Tigre / Small Bottle

Pros

  • +Intense, complex peat smoke character
  • +More affordable (£16.95 vs £20.95)

Cons

  • Lower community rating (0.0 vs 5.0)
  • Dry and austere — not for those who prefer sweeter drams

Balvenie DoubleWood 12 Year Old (20cl)

Pros

  • +Great entry point for new whisky drinkers
  • +Better value for money
  • +Higher community rating (5.0/5)
  • +More widely reviewed by the community

Cons

  • More expensive (£20.95 vs £16.95)
  • Lacks smoke character compared to the alternative

Who should buy Riserva?

Riserva Carlo Alberto L’artiglio Del Tigre / Small Bottle is for peat enthusiasts and experienced whisky lovers who appreciate bold, smoky, medicinal character. If you enjoy Ardbeg or Laphroaig, this is your dram. Not recommended for beginners.

Who should buy Balvenie?

Balvenie DoubleWood 12 Year Old (20cl) 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

Only Riserva Carlo Alberto L’artiglio Del Tigre / Small Bottle

SolventVegetativeMedicinal

Only Balvenie DoubleWood 12 Year Old (20cl)

SherriedVanillaHoneyCooked FruitToasted

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