Very Old Fitzgerald 1954 / 8 Year Old / Bot.1962 vs Yoichi 20 Year Old

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

Very Old Fitzgerald 1954 / 8 Year Old / Bot.1962Yoichi 20 Year Old
DistilleryOld FitzgeraldYoichi
Region
CountryUnited KingdomJapan
TypeSingle Malt
ABV40%52%
AgeNAS20 yr
Price£3500£2500
Rating4.33/5

Very Old Fitzgerald 1954 / 8 Year Old / Bot.1962

Smoke0/100
Sweetness68/100
Beginner85/100
Value0/100

Yoichi 20 Year Old

Smoke64/100
Sweetness43/100
Beginner35/100
Value2/100

Very Old Fitzgerald 1954 / 8 Year Old / Bot.1962

SmokySweetFruitySpicyWoodyFloral

Yoichi 20 Year Old

SmokySweetFruitySpicyWoodyFloral

Quick verdict

Yoichi 20 Year Old is rated higher (4.33 vs 0.00).

Yoichi 20 Year Old is better value at £2500 vs £3500.

For beginners: Very Old Fitzgerald 1954 / 8 Year Old / Bot.1962 is more approachable (85/100 beginner score).

Very Old Fitzgerald 1954 / 8 Year Old / Bot.1962

Pros

  • +Approachable and beginner-friendly sweetness
  • +Great entry point for new whisky drinkers

Cons

  • More expensive (£3500 vs £2500)
  • Lower community rating (0.0 vs 4.3)
  • Lacks smoke character compared to the alternative

Yoichi 20 Year Old

Pros

  • +Balanced smoky character without being overwhelming
  • +Better value for money
  • +Higher community rating (4.3/5)
  • +More affordable (£2500 vs £3500)

Cons

  • High ABV (52%) — may need water

Who should buy Very?

Very Old Fitzgerald 1954 / 8 Year Old / Bot.1962 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 Yoichi?

Yoichi 20 Year Old 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

Both taste of

Toasted

Only Very Old Fitzgerald 1954 / 8 Year Old / Bot.1962

VanillaHoney

Only Yoichi 20 Year Old

SmokeyOilyDried FruitMalt Extract

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