Balvenie 30 Year Old vs The Macallan 21 Year Old 1980 (cask 4063) - Exceptional Single Cask
Side-by-side comparison — price, ABV, scores, tasting notes, pros & cons.
Balvenie 30 Year Old
Balvenie
★ 5.00
£3193
The Macallan 21 Year Old 1980 (cask 4063) - Exceptional Single Cask
The Macallan
£2999
| Balvenie 30 Year Old | The Macallan 21 Year Old 1980 (cask 4063) - Exceptional Single Cask | |
|---|---|---|
| Distillery | Balvenie | The Macallan |
| Region | Speyside | Speyside |
| Country | Scotland | Scotland |
| Type | Single Malt | Single Malt |
| ABV | 44.2% | 59.3% |
| Age | 30 yr | 21 yr |
| Price | £3192.95 | £2999 |
| Rating | 5.00/5 | — |
Balvenie 30 Year Old
The Macallan 21 Year Old 1980 (cask 4063) - Exceptional Single Cask
Balvenie 30 Year Old
The Macallan 21 Year Old 1980 (cask 4063) - Exceptional Single Cask
Quick verdict
Balvenie 30 Year Old is rated higher (5.00 vs 0.00).
The Macallan 21 Year Old 1980 (cask 4063) - Exceptional Single Cask is better value at £2999 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 £2999)
The Macallan 21 Year Old 1980 (cask 4063) - Exceptional Single Cask
Pros
- +More affordable (£2999 vs £3192.95)
- +Vibrant, fresh fruit character
Cons
- −High ABV (59.3%) — may need water
- −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 The?
The Macallan 21 Year Old 1980 (cask 4063) - Exceptional Single Cask is for enthusiasts who appreciate cask-strength intensity. Best enjoyed with a few drops of water to open up the flavours. Not ideal for casual drinking or beginners.
Tasting notes
Both taste of
Only Balvenie 30 Year Old
Only The Macallan 21 Year Old 1980 (cask 4063) - Exceptional Single Cask