Balvenie DoubleWood 12 Year Old (20cl) vs Luxardo Sour Cherry Gin

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

Balvenie DoubleWood 12 Year Old (20cl)Luxardo Sour Cherry Gin
DistilleryBalvenieLuxardo
RegionSpeyside
CountryScotlandUnited Kingdom
TypeSingle Malt
ABV40%40%
Age12 yrNAS
Price£20.95£32.25
Rating5.00/5

Balvenie DoubleWood 12 Year Old (20cl)

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

Luxardo Sour Cherry Gin

Smoke72/100
Sweetness40/100
Beginner55/100
Value0/100

Balvenie DoubleWood 12 Year Old (20cl)

SmokySweetFruitySpicyWoodyFloral

Luxardo Sour Cherry Gin

SmokySweetFruitySpicyWoodyFloral

Quick verdict

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

Balvenie DoubleWood 12 Year Old (20cl) is better value at £21 vs £32.

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 affordable (£20.95 vs £32.25)

Cons

  • Lacks smoke character compared to the alternative

Luxardo Sour Cherry Gin

Pros

  • +Intense, complex peat smoke character
  • +Vibrant, fresh fruit character

Cons

  • More expensive (£32.25 vs £20.95)
  • 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 Luxardo?

Luxardo Sour Cherry Gin is for peat enthusiasts and experienced whisky lovers who appreciate bold, smoky, medicinal character. If you enjoy Ardbeg or Laphroaig, this is your dram. Not recommended for beginners.

Tasting notes

Only Balvenie DoubleWood 12 Year Old (20cl)

SherriedVanillaHoneyCooked FruitToasted

Only Luxardo Sour Cherry Gin

CitricMedicinalFresh FruitSolvent

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