Clynelish 24 Year Old 1972 - Rare Malts vs Balvenie 30 Year Old

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

Clynelish 24 Year Old 1972 - Rare MaltsBalvenie 30 Year Old
DistilleryClynelishBalvenie
RegionHighlandSpeyside
CountryScotlandScotland
TypeSingle MaltSingle Malt
ABV61.3%44.2%
Age24 yr30 yr
Price£2500£3192.95
Rating5.00/5

Clynelish 24 Year Old 1972 - Rare Malts

Smoke64/100
Sweetness58/100
Beginner25/100
Value0/100

Balvenie 30 Year Old

Smoke0/100
Sweetness66/100
Beginner75/100
Value2/100

Clynelish 24 Year Old 1972 - Rare Malts

SmokySweetFruitySpicyWoodyFloral

Balvenie 30 Year Old

SmokySweetFruitySpicyWoodyFloral

Quick verdict

Balvenie 30 Year Old is rated higher (5.00 vs 0.00).

Clynelish 24 Year Old 1972 - Rare Malts is better value at £2500 vs £3193.

For beginners: Balvenie 30 Year Old is more approachable (75/100 beginner score).

Clynelish 24 Year Old 1972 - Rare Malts

Pros

  • +Balanced smoky character without being overwhelming
  • +More affordable (£2500 vs £3192.95)
  • +Rich oak and wood spice complexity

Cons

  • High ABV (61.3%) — may need water
  • Lower community rating (0.0 vs 5.0)

Balvenie 30 Year Old

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 (£3192.95 vs £2500)
  • Lacks smoke character compared to the alternative

Who should buy Clynelish?

Clynelish 24 Year Old 1972 - Rare Malts 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.

Who should buy Balvenie?

Balvenie 30 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.

Tasting notes

Both taste of

Old WoodHoney

Only Clynelish 24 Year Old 1972 - Rare Malts

SmokeyLeatheryToasted

Only Balvenie 30 Year Old

SherriedDried FruitChocolate

Explore more