Balvenie DoubleWood 12 Year Old (20cl) vs John Barr Reserve Blend

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

Balvenie DoubleWood 12 Year Old (20cl)John Barr Reserve Blend
DistilleryBalvenieJohn Barr
RegionSpeyside
CountryScotlandScotland
TypeSingle MaltBlended
ABV40%40%
Age12 yrNAS
Price£20.95£19.95
Rating5.00/5

Balvenie DoubleWood 12 Year Old (20cl)

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

John Barr Reserve Blend

Smoke0/100
Sweetness57/100
Beginner85/100
Value0/100

Balvenie DoubleWood 12 Year Old (20cl)

SmokySweetFruitySpicyWoodyFloral

John Barr Reserve Blend

SmokySweetFruitySpicyWoodyFloral

Quick verdict

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

John Barr Reserve Blend is better value at £20 vs £21.

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

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 £19.95)

John Barr Reserve Blend

Pros

  • +Great entry point for new whisky drinkers
  • +More affordable (£19.95 vs £20.95)

Cons

  • Lower community rating (0.0 vs 5.0)

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.

Who should buy John?

John Barr Reserve Blend suits whisky enthusiasts looking for a well-rounded, complex dram. It rewards those with some experience and an appreciation for Blended character.

Tasting notes

Both taste of

VanillaHoneyToasted

Only Balvenie DoubleWood 12 Year Old (20cl)

SherriedCooked Fruit

Only John Barr Reserve Blend

Malt ExtractNutty

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