Clynelish 12 Year Old / Bot.1960s Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky vs Yamazaki Mizunara 18 Year Old (2017 Edition)

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

Clynelish 12 Year Old / Bot.1960s Highland Single Malt Scotch WhiskyYamazaki Mizunara 18 Year Old (2017 Edition)
DistilleryClynelishYamazaki
Region
CountryUnited KingdomJapan
TypeSingle Malt
ABV40%48%
AgeNAS18 yr
Price£6500£7299
Rating5.00/5

Clynelish 12 Year Old / Bot.1960s Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky

Smoke64/100
Sweetness68/100
Beginner75/100
Value0/100

Yamazaki Mizunara 18 Year Old (2017 Edition)

Smoke0/100
Sweetness88/100
Beginner70/100
Value1/100

Clynelish 12 Year Old / Bot.1960s Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky

SmokySweetFruitySpicyWoodyFloral

Yamazaki Mizunara 18 Year Old (2017 Edition)

SmokySweetFruitySpicyWoodyFloral

Quick verdict

Yamazaki Mizunara 18 Year Old (2017 Edition) is rated higher (5.00 vs 0.00).

Clynelish 12 Year Old / Bot.1960s Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky is better value at £6500 vs £7299.

For beginners: Clynelish 12 Year Old / Bot.1960s Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky is more approachable (75/100 beginner score).

Clynelish 12 Year Old / Bot.1960s Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky

Pros

  • +Balanced smoky character without being overwhelming
  • +Approachable and beginner-friendly sweetness
  • +Great entry point for new whisky drinkers
  • +More affordable (£6500 vs £7299)

Cons

  • Lower community rating (0.0 vs 5.0)

Yamazaki Mizunara 18 Year Old (2017 Edition)

Pros

  • +Approachable and beginner-friendly sweetness
  • +Great entry point for new whisky drinkers
  • +Better value for money
  • +Higher community rating (5.0/5)

Cons

  • More expensive (£7299 vs £6500)
  • Lacks smoke character compared to the alternative

Who should buy Clynelish?

Clynelish 12 Year Old / Bot.1960s Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky 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 Yamazaki?

Yamazaki Mizunara 18 Year Old (2017 Edition) 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

Honey

Only Clynelish 12 Year Old / Bot.1960s Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky

Malt ExtractVegetativeSmokey

Only Yamazaki Mizunara 18 Year Old (2017 Edition)

Old WoodVanilla

Explore more