Hermitage Cacao 25 Grande Champagne Cognac / 25 Year Old vs The Lakes Whiskymaker's Reserve No.5

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

Hermitage Cacao 25 Grande Champagne Cognac / 25 Year OldThe Lakes Whiskymaker's Reserve No.5
DistilleryHermitageThe Lakes Distillery
Region
CountryUnited KingdomEngland
TypeSingle Malt
ABV40%52%
AgeNASNAS
Price£133£84.95
Rating5.00/5

Hermitage Cacao 25 Grande Champagne Cognac / 25 Year Old

Smoke0/100
Sweetness66/100
Beginner85/100
Value0/100

The Lakes Whiskymaker's Reserve No.5

Smoke0/100
Sweetness66/100
Beginner65/100
Value59/100

Hermitage Cacao 25 Grande Champagne Cognac / 25 Year Old

SmokySweetFruitySpicyWoodyFloral

The Lakes Whiskymaker's Reserve No.5

SmokySweetFruitySpicyWoodyFloral

Quick verdict

The Lakes Whiskymaker's Reserve No.5 is rated higher (5.00 vs 0.00).

The Lakes Whiskymaker's Reserve No.5 is better value at £85 vs £133.

For beginners: Hermitage Cacao 25 Grande Champagne Cognac / 25 Year Old is more approachable (85/100 beginner score).

Hermitage Cacao 25 Grande Champagne Cognac / 25 Year Old

Pros

  • +Approachable and beginner-friendly sweetness
  • +Great entry point for new whisky drinkers
  • +Vibrant, fresh fruit character

Cons

  • More expensive (£133 vs £84.95)
  • Lower community rating (0.0 vs 5.0)

The Lakes Whiskymaker's Reserve No.5

Pros

  • +Approachable and beginner-friendly sweetness
  • +Better value for money
  • +Higher community rating (5.0/5)
  • +More affordable (£84.95 vs £133)

Cons

  • High ABV (52%) — may need water

Who should buy Hermitage?

Hermitage Cacao 25 Grande Champagne Cognac / 25 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 The?

The Lakes Whiskymaker's Reserve No.5 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

HoneySherried

Only Hermitage Cacao 25 Grande Champagne Cognac / 25 Year Old

ChocolateDried Fruit

Only The Lakes Whiskymaker's Reserve No.5

VanillaToasted

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