The Antiquary 21 Year Old vs Balblair 1991 (bottled 2018)

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

The Antiquary 21 Year OldBalblair 1991 (bottled 2018)
DistilleryThe AntiquaryBalblair
RegionOther ScotchHighland
CountryScotlandScotland
TypeBlendedSingle Malt
ABV43%46%
Age21 yr26 yr
Price£84.9£119.9
Rating5.00/54.50/5

The Antiquary 21 Year Old

Smoke0/100
Sweetness47/100
Beginner75/100
Value59/100

Balblair 1991 (bottled 2018)

Smoke0/100
Sweetness58/100
Beginner60/100
Value38/100

The Antiquary 21 Year Old

SmokySweetFruitySpicyWoodyFloral

Balblair 1991 (bottled 2018)

SmokySweetFruitySpicyWoodyFloral

Quick verdict

The Antiquary 21 Year Old is rated higher (5.00 vs 4.50).

The Antiquary 21 Year Old is better value at £85 vs £120.

For beginners: The Antiquary 21 Year Old is more approachable (75/100 beginner score).

The Antiquary 21 Year Old

Pros

  • +Great entry point for new whisky drinkers
  • +Better value for money
  • +Higher community rating (5.0/5)
  • +More affordable (£84.9 vs £119.9)

Cons

  • Niche style — may not suit all palates

Balblair 1991 (bottled 2018)

Pros

  • +Longer maturation (26 vs 21 years)
  • +Vibrant, fresh fruit character

Cons

  • More expensive (£119.9 vs £84.9)
  • Lower community rating (4.5 vs 5.0)

Who should buy The?

The Antiquary 21 Year Old suits whisky enthusiasts looking for a well-rounded, complex dram. It rewards those with some experience and an appreciation for Other Scotch character.

Who should buy Balblair?

Balblair 1991 (bottled 2018) suits whisky enthusiasts looking for a well-rounded, complex dram. It rewards those with some experience and an appreciation for Highland character.

Tasting notes

Both taste of

SherriedDried FruitNutty

Only The Antiquary 21 Year Old

Old WoodTobacco

Only Balblair 1991 (bottled 2018)

HoneyToastedVanilla

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