Balvenie DoubleWood 12 Year Old (20cl) vs Benchmark Bourbon Old Number 8

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

Balvenie DoubleWood 12 Year Old (20cl)Benchmark Bourbon Old Number 8
DistilleryBalvenieBenchmark
RegionSpeyside
CountryScotlandAmerica
TypeSingle MaltBourbon
ABV40%40%
Age12 yrNAS
Price£20.95£23.79
Rating5.00/54.29/5

Balvenie DoubleWood 12 Year Old (20cl)

Smoke0/100
Sweetness63/100
Beginner85/100
Value100/100

Benchmark Bourbon Old Number 8

Smoke0/100
Sweetness64/100
Beginner85/100
Value100/100

Balvenie DoubleWood 12 Year Old (20cl)

SmokySweetFruitySpicyWoodyFloral

Benchmark Bourbon Old Number 8

SmokySweetFruitySpicyWoodyFloral

Quick verdict

Balvenie DoubleWood 12 Year Old (20cl) is rated higher (5.00 vs 4.29).

Balvenie DoubleWood 12 Year Old (20cl) is better value at £21 vs £24.

For beginners: Balvenie DoubleWood 12 Year Old (20cl) is more approachable (85/100 beginner score).

Balvenie DoubleWood 12 Year Old (20cl)

Pros

  • +Great entry point for new whisky drinkers
  • +Higher community rating (5.0/5)
  • +More affordable (£20.95 vs £23.79)

Cons

  • Niche style — may not suit all palates

Benchmark Bourbon Old Number 8

Pros

  • +Great entry point for new whisky drinkers
  • +More widely reviewed by the community

Cons

  • More expensive (£23.79 vs £20.95)
  • Lower community rating (4.3 vs 5.0)

Who should buy Balvenie?

Balvenie DoubleWood 12 Year Old (20cl) 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 Benchmark?

Benchmark Bourbon Old Number 8 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

VanillaHoneyToasted

Only Balvenie DoubleWood 12 Year Old (20cl)

SherriedCooked Fruit

Only Benchmark Bourbon Old Number 8

Malt Extract

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