Balvenie 30 Year Old vs Lagavulin 1979 Distillers Edition / Bot.1997 / Litre Islay Whisky

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

Balvenie 30 Year OldLagavulin 1979 Distillers Edition / Bot.1997 / Litre Islay Whisky
DistilleryBalvenieLagavulin
RegionSpeyside
CountryScotlandUnited Kingdom
TypeSingle Malt
ABV44.2%40%
Age30 yrNAS
Price£3192.95£2500
Rating5.00/5

Balvenie 30 Year Old

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

Lagavulin 1979 Distillers Edition / Bot.1997 / Litre Islay Whisky

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

Balvenie 30 Year Old

SmokySweetFruitySpicyWoodyFloral

Lagavulin 1979 Distillers Edition / Bot.1997 / Litre Islay Whisky

SmokySweetFruitySpicyWoodyFloral

Quick verdict

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

Lagavulin 1979 Distillers Edition / Bot.1997 / Litre Islay Whisky is better value at £2500 vs £3193.

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

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

Lagavulin 1979 Distillers Edition / Bot.1997 / Litre Islay Whisky

Pros

  • +Balanced smoky character without being overwhelming
  • +Approachable and beginner-friendly sweetness
  • +Great entry point for new whisky drinkers
  • +More affordable (£2500 vs £3192.95)

Cons

  • 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 Lagavulin?

Lagavulin 1979 Distillers Edition / Bot.1997 / Litre Islay Whisky 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 Fruit

Only Balvenie 30 Year Old

ChocolateOld Wood

Only Lagavulin 1979 Distillers Edition / Bot.1997 / Litre Islay Whisky

Smokey

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