Balvenie 30 Year Old vs Macallan 30 Year Old 1989 (cask 15636) - Xtra Old Particular The Black Series (Douglas Laing)
Side-by-side comparison — price, ABV, scores, tasting notes, pros & cons.
Balvenie 30 Year Old
Balvenie
★ 5.00
£3193
Macallan 30 Year Old 1989 (cask 15636) - Xtra Old Particular The Black Series (Douglas Laing)
The Macallan
£3995
| Balvenie 30 Year Old | Macallan 30 Year Old 1989 (cask 15636) - Xtra Old Particular The Black Series (Douglas Laing) | |
|---|---|---|
| Distillery | Balvenie | The Macallan |
| Region | Speyside | — |
| Country | Scotland | Scotland |
| Type | Single Malt | Single Malt |
| ABV | 44.2% | 46% |
| Age | 30 yr | 30 yr |
| Price | £3192.95 | £3995 |
| Rating | 5.00/5 | — |
Balvenie 30 Year Old
Macallan 30 Year Old 1989 (cask 15636) - Xtra Old Particular The Black Series (Douglas Laing)
Balvenie 30 Year Old
Macallan 30 Year Old 1989 (cask 15636) - Xtra Old Particular The Black Series (Douglas Laing)
Quick verdict
Balvenie 30 Year Old is rated higher (5.00 vs 0.00).
Balvenie 30 Year Old is better value at £3193 vs £3995.
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
- −Niche style — may not suit all palates
Macallan 30 Year Old 1989 (cask 15636) - Xtra Old Particular The Black Series (Douglas Laing)
Pros
- +Approachable and beginner-friendly sweetness
- +Great entry point for new whisky drinkers
Cons
- −More expensive (£3995 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 Macallan?
Macallan 30 Year Old 1989 (cask 15636) - Xtra Old Particular The Black Series (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.
Tasting notes
Both taste of
Only Balvenie 30 Year Old
Only Macallan 30 Year Old 1989 (cask 15636) - Xtra Old Particular The Black Series (Douglas Laing)