Balvenie 30 Year Old vs Macallan 35 Year Old 1988 - Xtra Old Particular 75th Anniversary (Douglas Laing)
Side-by-side comparison — price, ABV, scores, tasting notes, pros & cons.
Balvenie 30 Year Old
Balvenie
★ 5.00
£3193
Macallan 35 Year Old 1988 - Xtra Old Particular 75th Anniversary (Douglas Laing)
The Macallan
£4999
| Balvenie 30 Year Old | Macallan 35 Year Old 1988 - Xtra Old Particular 75th Anniversary (Douglas Laing) | |
|---|---|---|
| Distillery | Balvenie | The Macallan |
| Region | Speyside | Speyside |
| Country | Scotland | Scotland |
| Type | Single Malt | Single Malt |
| ABV | 44.2% | 44.4% |
| Age | 30 yr | 35 yr |
| Price | £3192.95 | £4999 |
| Rating | 5.00/5 | — |
Balvenie 30 Year Old
Macallan 35 Year Old 1988 - Xtra Old Particular 75th Anniversary (Douglas Laing)
Balvenie 30 Year Old
Macallan 35 Year Old 1988 - Xtra Old Particular 75th Anniversary (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 £4999.
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 35 Year Old 1988 - Xtra Old Particular 75th Anniversary (Douglas Laing)
Pros
- +Approachable and beginner-friendly sweetness
- +Great entry point for new whisky drinkers
- +Longer maturation (35 vs 30 years)
- +Vibrant, fresh fruit character
Cons
- −More expensive (£4999 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 35 Year Old 1988 - Xtra Old Particular 75th Anniversary (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 35 Year Old 1988 - Xtra Old Particular 75th Anniversary (Douglas Laing)