Balvenie 21 Year Old Single Barrel vs Highland Park 28 Year Old 1984 (cask 9968) - Director's Cut (Douglas Laing)

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

Balvenie 21 Year Old Single BarrelHighland Park 28 Year Old 1984 (cask 9968) - Director's Cut (Douglas Laing)
DistilleryBalvenieHighland Park
RegionSpeysideIsland
CountryScotlandScotland
TypeSingle MaltSingle Malt
ABV47.8%48.5%
Age21 yr28 yr
Price£220£228.43
Rating5.00/5

Balvenie 21 Year Old Single Barrel

Smoke0/100
Sweetness64/100
Beginner55/100
Value0/100

Highland Park 28 Year Old 1984 (cask 9968) - Director's Cut (Douglas Laing)

Smoke64/100
Sweetness58/100
Beginner45/100
Value22/100

Balvenie 21 Year Old Single Barrel

SmokySweetFruitySpicyWoodyFloral

Highland Park 28 Year Old 1984 (cask 9968) - Director's Cut (Douglas Laing)

SmokySweetFruitySpicyWoodyFloral

Quick verdict

Highland Park 28 Year Old 1984 (cask 9968) - Director's Cut (Douglas Laing) is rated higher (5.00 vs 0.00).

Balvenie 21 Year Old Single Barrel is better value at £220 vs £228.

For beginners: Balvenie 21 Year Old Single Barrel is more approachable (55/100 beginner score).

Balvenie 21 Year Old Single Barrel

Pros

  • +More affordable (£220 vs £228.43)

Cons

  • Lower community rating (0.0 vs 5.0)
  • Lacks smoke character compared to the alternative

Highland Park 28 Year Old 1984 (cask 9968) - Director's Cut (Douglas Laing)

Pros

  • +Balanced smoky character without being overwhelming
  • +Better value for money
  • +Higher community rating (5.0/5)
  • +Longer maturation (28 vs 21 years)

Cons

  • More expensive (£228.43 vs £220)

Who should buy Balvenie?

Balvenie 21 Year Old Single Barrel suits whisky enthusiasts looking for a well-rounded, complex dram. It rewards those with some experience and an appreciation for Speyside character.

Who should buy Highland?

Highland Park 28 Year Old 1984 (cask 9968) - Director's Cut (Douglas Laing) suits whisky enthusiasts looking for a well-rounded, complex dram. It rewards those with some experience and an appreciation for Island character.

Tasting notes

Both taste of

HoneyToasted

Only Balvenie 21 Year Old Single Barrel

Malt ExtractVanilla

Only Highland Park 28 Year Old 1984 (cask 9968) - Director's Cut (Douglas Laing)

SmokeyOld WoodLeathery

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