Balvenie DoubleWood 12 Year Old (20cl) vs North British 12 Year Old 2011 (Master of Malt)

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

Balvenie DoubleWood 12 Year Old (20cl)North British 12 Year Old 2011 (Master of Malt)
DistilleryBalvenieNorth British
RegionSpeysideLowland
CountryScotlandScotland
TypeSingle MaltGrain
ABV40%40%
Age12 yr12 yr
Price£20.95£25.95
Rating5.00/54.00/5

Balvenie DoubleWood 12 Year Old (20cl)

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

North British 12 Year Old 2011 (Master of Malt)

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

Balvenie DoubleWood 12 Year Old (20cl)

SmokySweetFruitySpicyWoodyFloral

North British 12 Year Old 2011 (Master of Malt)

SmokySweetFruitySpicyWoodyFloral

Quick verdict

Balvenie DoubleWood 12 Year Old (20cl) is rated higher (5.00 vs 4.00).

Balvenie DoubleWood 12 Year Old (20cl) is better value at £21 vs £26.

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 £25.95)
  • +More widely reviewed by the community

Cons

  • Niche style — may not suit all palates

North British 12 Year Old 2011 (Master of Malt)

Pros

  • +Great entry point for new whisky drinkers

Cons

  • More expensive (£25.95 vs £20.95)
  • Lower community rating (4.0 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 North?

North British 12 Year Old 2011 (Master of Malt) 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 North British 12 Year Old 2011 (Master of Malt)

Malt ExtractOily

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