Aberlour 25 Year Old 1990 - Old & Rare Platinum (Hunter Laing) vs Rosebank 25 Year Old 1981 (Special Release 2007)

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

Aberlour 25 Year Old 1990 - Old & Rare Platinum (Hunter Laing)Rosebank 25 Year Old 1981 (Special Release 2007)
DistilleryAberlourRosebank
RegionSpeysideLowland
CountryScotlandScotland
TypeSingle MaltSingle Malt
ABV50.3%61.4%
Age25 yr25 yr
Price£195.9£173.95
Rating5.00/5

Aberlour 25 Year Old 1990 - Old & Rare Platinum (Hunter Laing)

Smoke0/100
Sweetness71/100
Beginner60/100
Value0/100

Rosebank 25 Year Old 1981 (Special Release 2007)

Smoke0/100
Sweetness60/100
Beginner35/100
Value29/100

Aberlour 25 Year Old 1990 - Old & Rare Platinum (Hunter Laing)

SmokySweetFruitySpicyWoodyFloral

Rosebank 25 Year Old 1981 (Special Release 2007)

SmokySweetFruitySpicyWoodyFloral

Quick verdict

Rosebank 25 Year Old 1981 (Special Release 2007) is rated higher (5.00 vs 0.00).

Rosebank 25 Year Old 1981 (Special Release 2007) is better value at £174 vs £196.

For beginners: Aberlour 25 Year Old 1990 - Old & Rare Platinum (Hunter Laing) is more approachable (60/100 beginner score).

Aberlour 25 Year Old 1990 - Old & Rare Platinum (Hunter Laing)

Pros

  • +Approachable and beginner-friendly sweetness
  • +Vibrant, fresh fruit character

Cons

  • High ABV (50.3%) — may need water
  • More expensive (£195.9 vs £173.95)
  • Lower community rating (0.0 vs 5.0)

Rosebank 25 Year Old 1981 (Special Release 2007)

Pros

  • +Better value for money
  • +Higher community rating (5.0/5)
  • +More affordable (£173.95 vs £195.9)
  • +More widely reviewed by the community

Cons

  • High ABV (61.4%) — may need water

Who should buy Aberlour?

Aberlour 25 Year Old 1990 - Old & Rare Platinum (Hunter Laing) 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.

Who should buy Rosebank?

Rosebank 25 Year Old 1981 (Special Release 2007) 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

VanillaOld Wood

Only Aberlour 25 Year Old 1990 - Old & Rare Platinum (Hunter Laing)

HoneySherriedDried Fruit

Only Rosebank 25 Year Old 1981 (Special Release 2007)

Malt ExtractHay-likeFresh Fruit

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