The Glenrothes 42 Year Old vs Yamazaki Mizunara 18 Year Old (2017 Edition)

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

The Glenrothes 42 Year OldYamazaki Mizunara 18 Year Old (2017 Edition)
DistilleryGlenrothesYamazaki
RegionSpeyside
CountryScotlandJapan
TypeSingle MaltSingle Malt
ABV43%48%
Age42 yr18 yr
Price£5995£7299
Rating5.00/5

The Glenrothes 42 Year Old

Smoke0/100
Sweetness71/100
Beginner85/100
Value0/100

Yamazaki Mizunara 18 Year Old (2017 Edition)

Smoke0/100
Sweetness88/100
Beginner70/100
Value1/100

The Glenrothes 42 Year Old

SmokySweetFruitySpicyWoodyFloral

Yamazaki Mizunara 18 Year Old (2017 Edition)

SmokySweetFruitySpicyWoodyFloral

Quick verdict

Yamazaki Mizunara 18 Year Old (2017 Edition) is rated higher (5.00 vs 0.00).

The Glenrothes 42 Year Old is better value at £5995 vs £7299.

For beginners: The Glenrothes 42 Year Old is more approachable (85/100 beginner score).

The Glenrothes 42 Year Old

Pros

  • +Approachable and beginner-friendly sweetness
  • +Great entry point for new whisky drinkers
  • +More affordable (£5995 vs £7299)
  • +Longer maturation (42 vs 18 years)

Cons

  • Lower community rating (0.0 vs 5.0)

Yamazaki Mizunara 18 Year Old (2017 Edition)

Pros

  • +Approachable and beginner-friendly sweetness
  • +Great entry point for new whisky drinkers
  • +Better value for money
  • +Higher community rating (5.0/5)

Cons

  • More expensive (£7299 vs £5995)

Who should buy The?

The Glenrothes 42 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 Yamazaki?

Yamazaki Mizunara 18 Year Old (2017 Edition) suits those who enjoy sweet, honeyed, or fruity whiskies. It's accessible for beginners and crowd-pleasing enough for gifts. Fans of approachable Speyside or Irish whiskey will love it.

Tasting notes

Both taste of

Old WoodHoneyVanilla

Only The Glenrothes 42 Year Old

SherriedMalt Extract

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