Balvenie DoubleWood 12 Year Old vs Cotswolds Founder's Choice Whisky 2018

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

Balvenie DoubleWood 12 Year OldCotswolds Founder's Choice Whisky 2018
DistilleryBalvenieCotswolds
RegionSpeyside
CountryScotlandEngland
TypeSingle MaltSingle Malt
ABV40%60.9%
Age12 yrNAS
Price£49.5£64.95
Rating4.15/55.00/5

Balvenie DoubleWood 12 Year Old

Smoke0/100
Sweetness63/100
Beginner75/100
Value84/100

Cotswolds Founder's Choice Whisky 2018

Smoke0/100
Sweetness59/100
Beginner40/100
Value77/100

Balvenie DoubleWood 12 Year Old

SmokySweetFruitySpicyWoodyFloral

Cotswolds Founder's Choice Whisky 2018

SmokySweetFruitySpicyWoodyFloral

Quick verdict

Cotswolds Founder's Choice Whisky 2018 is rated higher (5.00 vs 4.15).

Balvenie DoubleWood 12 Year Old is better value at £50 vs £65.

For beginners: Balvenie DoubleWood 12 Year Old is more approachable (75/100 beginner score).

Balvenie DoubleWood 12 Year Old

Pros

  • +Great entry point for new whisky drinkers
  • +Better value for money
  • +More affordable (£49.5 vs £64.95)
  • +More widely reviewed by the community

Cons

  • Lower community rating (4.1 vs 5.0)

Cotswolds Founder's Choice Whisky 2018

Pros

  • +Higher community rating (5.0/5)

Cons

  • High ABV (60.9%) — may need water
  • More expensive (£64.95 vs £49.5)

Who should buy Balvenie?

Balvenie DoubleWood 12 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 Cotswolds?

Cotswolds Founder's Choice Whisky 2018 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

VanillaHoneyToastedMalt Extract

Only Balvenie DoubleWood 12 Year Old

Sherried

Only Cotswolds Founder's Choice Whisky 2018

Fresh Fruit

Where to buy

Balvenie DoubleWood 12 Year Old

Cotswolds Founder's Choice Whisky 2018

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