Balvenie DoubleWood 12 Year Old (20cl) vs Glenrothes 23 Year Old 1990 - Old & Rare Platinum (Hunter Laing)
Side-by-side comparison — price, ABV, scores, tasting notes, pros & cons.
Balvenie DoubleWood 12 Year Old (20cl)
Balvenie
★ 5.00
£21
Glenrothes 23 Year Old 1990 - Old & Rare Platinum (Hunter Laing)
Glenrothes
£16
| Balvenie DoubleWood 12 Year Old (20cl) | Glenrothes 23 Year Old 1990 - Old & Rare Platinum (Hunter Laing) | |
|---|---|---|
| Distillery | Balvenie | Glenrothes |
| Region | Speyside | Speyside |
| Country | Scotland | Scotland |
| Type | Single Malt | Single Malt |
| ABV | 40% | 56.5% |
| Age | 12 yr | 23 yr |
| Price | £20.95 | £16.1 |
| Rating | 5.00/5 | — |
Balvenie DoubleWood 12 Year Old (20cl)
Glenrothes 23 Year Old 1990 - Old & Rare Platinum (Hunter Laing)
Balvenie DoubleWood 12 Year Old (20cl)
Glenrothes 23 Year Old 1990 - Old & Rare Platinum (Hunter Laing)
Quick verdict
Balvenie DoubleWood 12 Year Old (20cl) is rated higher (5.00 vs 0.00).
Glenrothes 23 Year Old 1990 - Old & Rare Platinum (Hunter Laing) is better value at £16 vs £21.
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
- +Better value for money
- +Higher community rating (5.0/5)
- +More widely reviewed by the community
Cons
- −More expensive (£20.95 vs £16.1)
Glenrothes 23 Year Old 1990 - Old & Rare Platinum (Hunter Laing)
Pros
- +Approachable and beginner-friendly sweetness
- +More affordable (£16.1 vs £20.95)
- +Longer maturation (23 vs 12 years)
Cons
- −High ABV (56.5%) — may need water
- −Lower community rating (0.0 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 Glenrothes?
Glenrothes 23 Year Old 1990 - Old & Rare Platinum (Hunter Laing) suits those who enjoy sweet, honeyed, or fruity whiskies. It's accessible for beginners and crowd-pleasing enough for gifts. Fans of approachable Speyside or Irish whiskey will love it.
Tasting notes
Both taste of
Only Balvenie DoubleWood 12 Year Old (20cl)
Only Glenrothes 23 Year Old 1990 - Old & Rare Platinum (Hunter Laing)