Banff 36 Year Old 1975 - Old and Rare (Douglas Laing) vs Johnnie Walker Blue Label - Year of the Rat 2020

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

Banff 36 Year Old 1975 - Old and Rare (Douglas Laing)Johnnie Walker Blue Label - Year of the Rat 2020
DistilleryBanffJohnnie Walker
RegionSpeysideOther Scotch
CountryScotlandScotland
TypeSingle MaltBlended
ABV41.8%40%
Age36 yrNAS
Price£265.32£210
Rating5.00/5

Banff 36 Year Old 1975 - Old and Rare (Douglas Laing)

Smoke0/100
Sweetness40/100
Beginner70/100
Value19/100

Johnnie Walker Blue Label - Year of the Rat 2020

Smoke64/100
Sweetness71/100
Beginner75/100
Value0/100

Banff 36 Year Old 1975 - Old and Rare (Douglas Laing)

SmokySweetFruitySpicyWoodyFloral

Johnnie Walker Blue Label - Year of the Rat 2020

SmokySweetFruitySpicyWoodyFloral

Quick verdict

Banff 36 Year Old 1975 - Old and Rare (Douglas Laing) is rated higher (5.00 vs 0.00).

Johnnie Walker Blue Label - Year of the Rat 2020 is better value at £210 vs £265.

For beginners: Johnnie Walker Blue Label - Year of the Rat 2020 is more approachable (75/100 beginner score).

Banff 36 Year Old 1975 - Old and Rare (Douglas Laing)

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 (£265.32 vs £210)
  • Lacks smoke character compared to the alternative

Johnnie Walker Blue Label - Year of the Rat 2020

Pros

  • +Balanced smoky character without being overwhelming
  • +Approachable and beginner-friendly sweetness
  • +Great entry point for new whisky drinkers
  • +More affordable (£210 vs £265.32)

Cons

  • Lower community rating (0.0 vs 5.0)

Who should buy Banff?

Banff 36 Year Old 1975 - Old and Rare (Douglas Laing) suits whisky enthusiasts looking for a well-rounded, complex dram. It rewards those with some experience and an appreciation for Speyside character.

Who should buy Johnnie?

Johnnie Walker Blue Label - Year of the Rat 2020 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

Old Wood

Only Banff 36 Year Old 1975 - Old and Rare (Douglas Laing)

LeatheryTobaccoMalt ExtractNutty

Only Johnnie Walker Blue Label - Year of the Rat 2020

SherriedHoneyVanillaDried FruitSmokey

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