Balblair 35 Year Old 1966 - Old Malt Cask (Douglas Laing) vs Cardhu 11 Year Old (Special Release 2020)
Side-by-side comparison — price, ABV, scores, tasting notes, pros & cons.
Balblair 35 Year Old 1966 - Old Malt Cask (Douglas Laing)
Balblair
£125
Cardhu 11 Year Old (Special Release 2020)
Cardhu
★ 5.00
£84
| Balblair 35 Year Old 1966 - Old Malt Cask (Douglas Laing) | Cardhu 11 Year Old (Special Release 2020) | |
|---|---|---|
| Distillery | Balblair | Cardhu |
| Region | Highland | Speyside |
| Country | Scotland | Scotland |
| Type | Single Malt | Single Malt |
| ABV | 40.4% | 56% |
| Age | 35 yr | 11 yr |
| Price | £124.95 | £83.9 |
| Rating | — | 5.00/5 |
Balblair 35 Year Old 1966 - Old Malt Cask (Douglas Laing)
Cardhu 11 Year Old (Special Release 2020)
Balblair 35 Year Old 1966 - Old Malt Cask (Douglas Laing)
Cardhu 11 Year Old (Special Release 2020)
Quick verdict
Cardhu 11 Year Old (Special Release 2020) is rated higher (5.00 vs 0.00).
Cardhu 11 Year Old (Special Release 2020) is better value at £84 vs £125.
For beginners: Balblair 35 Year Old 1966 - Old Malt Cask (Douglas Laing) is more approachable (85/100 beginner score).
Balblair 35 Year Old 1966 - Old Malt Cask (Douglas Laing)
Pros
- +Approachable and beginner-friendly sweetness
- +Great entry point for new whisky drinkers
- +Longer maturation (35 vs 11 years)
Cons
- −More expensive (£124.95 vs £83.9)
- −Lower community rating (0.0 vs 5.0)
Cardhu 11 Year Old (Special Release 2020)
Pros
- +Approachable and beginner-friendly sweetness
- +Better value for money
- +Higher community rating (5.0/5)
- +More affordable (£83.9 vs £124.95)
Cons
- −High ABV (56%) — may need water
Who should buy Balblair?
Balblair 35 Year Old 1966 - Old Malt Cask (Douglas Laing) 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 Cardhu?
Cardhu 11 Year Old (Special Release 2020) 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
Only Balblair 35 Year Old 1966 - Old Malt Cask (Douglas Laing)
Only Cardhu 11 Year Old (Special Release 2020)