Hakushu 1981 / Vintage Malt / Sherry Cask / Bot.2004 Japanese Whisky vs Yamazaki Mizunara 18 Year Old (2017 Edition)

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

Hakushu 1981 / Vintage Malt / Sherry Cask / Bot.2004 Japanese WhiskyYamazaki Mizunara 18 Year Old (2017 Edition)
DistilleryHakushuYamazaki
Region
CountryUnited KingdomJapan
TypeSingle Malt
ABV40%48%
AgeNAS18 yr
Price£10000£7299
Rating5.00/5

Hakushu 1981 / Vintage Malt / Sherry Cask / Bot.2004 Japanese Whisky

Smoke72/100
Sweetness60/100
Beginner40/100
Value0/100

Yamazaki Mizunara 18 Year Old (2017 Edition)

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

Hakushu 1981 / Vintage Malt / Sherry Cask / Bot.2004 Japanese 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).

Yamazaki Mizunara 18 Year Old (2017 Edition) is better value at £7299 vs £10000.

For beginners: Yamazaki Mizunara 18 Year Old (2017 Edition) is more approachable (70/100 beginner score).

Hakushu 1981 / Vintage Malt / Sherry Cask / Bot.2004 Japanese Whisky

Pros

  • +Intense, complex peat smoke character
  • +Vibrant, fresh fruit character

Cons

  • Challenging for beginners — intense and polarising
  • More expensive (£10000 vs £7299)
  • 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

  • Lacks smoke character compared to the alternative

Who should buy Hakushu?

Hakushu 1981 / Vintage Malt / Sherry Cask / Bot.2004 Japanese Whisky is for peat enthusiasts and experienced whisky lovers who appreciate bold, smoky, medicinal character. If you enjoy Ardbeg or Laphroaig, this is your dram. Not recommended for beginners.

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

Only Hakushu 1981 / Vintage Malt / Sherry Cask / Bot.2004 Japanese Whisky

SherriedChocolateDried FruitMedicinal

Only Yamazaki Mizunara 18 Year Old (2017 Edition)

Old WoodVanillaHoney

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