The Macallan 25 Year Old Sherry Oak - Pre 2018 vs Karuizawa 19 Year Old 1998 Single Cask (Master of Malt)

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

The Macallan 25 Year Old Sherry Oak - Pre 2018Karuizawa 19 Year Old 1998 Single Cask (Master of Malt)
DistilleryThe MacallanKaruizawa
RegionSpeyside
CountryScotlandJapan
TypeSingle MaltSingle Malt
ABV43%48.4%
Age25 yr19 yr
Price£2750£3499.95
Rating4.91/5

The Macallan 25 Year Old Sherry Oak - Pre 2018

Smoke0/100
Sweetness60/100
Beginner70/100
Value2/100

Karuizawa 19 Year Old 1998 Single Cask (Master of Malt)

Smoke0/100
Sweetness53/100
Beginner55/100
Value0/100

The Macallan 25 Year Old Sherry Oak - Pre 2018

SmokySweetFruitySpicyWoodyFloral

Karuizawa 19 Year Old 1998 Single Cask (Master of Malt)

SmokySweetFruitySpicyWoodyFloral

Quick verdict

The Macallan 25 Year Old Sherry Oak - Pre 2018 is rated higher (4.91 vs 0.00).

The Macallan 25 Year Old Sherry Oak - Pre 2018 is better value at £2750 vs £3500.

For beginners: The Macallan 25 Year Old Sherry Oak - Pre 2018 is more approachable (70/100 beginner score).

The Macallan 25 Year Old Sherry Oak - Pre 2018

Pros

  • +Great entry point for new whisky drinkers
  • +Better value for money
  • +Higher community rating (4.9/5)
  • +More affordable (£2750 vs £3499.95)

Cons

  • Niche style — may not suit all palates

Karuizawa 19 Year Old 1998 Single Cask (Master of Malt)

Pros

  • +Vibrant, fresh fruit character

Cons

  • More expensive (£3499.95 vs £2750)
  • Lower community rating (0.0 vs 4.9)

Who should buy The?

The Macallan 25 Year Old Sherry Oak - Pre 2018 suits whisky enthusiasts looking for a well-rounded, complex dram. It rewards those with some experience and an appreciation for Speyside character.

Who should buy Karuizawa?

Karuizawa 19 Year Old 1998 Single Cask (Master of Malt) suits whisky enthusiasts looking for a well-rounded, complex dram. It rewards those with some experience and an appreciation for Single Malt character.

Tasting notes

Both taste of

SherriedOld WoodDried FruitChocolate

Only The Macallan 25 Year Old Sherry Oak - Pre 2018

Tobacco

Only Karuizawa 19 Year Old 1998 Single Cask (Master of Malt)

Toasted

Explore more