Balvenie 30 Year Old vs Highland Park 35 Year Old John Goodwin

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

Balvenie 30 Year OldHighland Park 35 Year Old John Goodwin
DistilleryBalvenieHighland Park
RegionSpeysideIsland
CountryScotlandScotland
TypeSingle MaltSingle Malt
ABV44.2%40%
Age30 yr35 yr
Price£3192.95£4995
Rating5.00/5

Balvenie 30 Year Old

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

Highland Park 35 Year Old John Goodwin

Smoke64/100
Sweetness65/100
Beginner75/100
Value0/100

Balvenie 30 Year Old

SmokySweetFruitySpicyWoodyFloral

Highland Park 35 Year Old John Goodwin

SmokySweetFruitySpicyWoodyFloral

Quick verdict

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

Balvenie 30 Year Old is better value at £3193 vs £4995.

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

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

  • Lacks smoke character compared to the alternative

Highland Park 35 Year Old John Goodwin

Pros

  • +Balanced smoky character without being overwhelming
  • +Approachable and beginner-friendly sweetness
  • +Great entry point for new whisky drinkers
  • +Longer maturation (35 vs 30 years)

Cons

  • More expensive (£4995 vs £3192.95)
  • Lower community rating (0.0 vs 5.0)

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.

Who should buy Highland?

Highland Park 35 Year Old John Goodwin 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

SherriedHoneyDried FruitOld Wood

Only Balvenie 30 Year Old

Chocolate

Only Highland Park 35 Year Old John Goodwin

Smokey

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