Macallan 31 Year Old / The Marriage / Vintage Bottlers Speyside Whisky vs The Balvenie 40 Year Old

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

Macallan 31 Year Old / The Marriage / Vintage Bottlers Speyside WhiskyThe Balvenie 40 Year Old
DistilleryMacallanBalvenie
RegionSpeyside
CountryUnited KingdomScotland
TypeSingle Malt
ABV40%42.2%
AgeNAS40 yr
Price£5500£7225
Rating4.80/5

Macallan 31 Year Old / The Marriage / Vintage Bottlers Speyside Whisky

Smoke0/100
Sweetness60/100
Beginner70/100
Value0/100

The Balvenie 40 Year Old

Smoke0/100
Sweetness78/100
Beginner85/100
Value1/100

Macallan 31 Year Old / The Marriage / Vintage Bottlers Speyside Whisky

SmokySweetFruitySpicyWoodyFloral

The Balvenie 40 Year Old

SmokySweetFruitySpicyWoodyFloral

Quick verdict

The Balvenie 40 Year Old is rated higher (4.80 vs 0.00).

Macallan 31 Year Old / The Marriage / Vintage Bottlers Speyside Whisky is better value at £5500 vs £7225.

For beginners: The Balvenie 40 Year Old is more approachable (85/100 beginner score).

Macallan 31 Year Old / The Marriage / Vintage Bottlers Speyside Whisky

Pros

  • +Great entry point for new whisky drinkers
  • +More affordable (£5500 vs £7225)
  • +Vibrant, fresh fruit character

Cons

  • Lower community rating (0.0 vs 4.8)

The Balvenie 40 Year Old

Pros

  • +Approachable and beginner-friendly sweetness
  • +Great entry point for new whisky drinkers
  • +Better value for money
  • +Higher community rating (4.8/5)

Cons

  • More expensive (£7225 vs £5500)

Who should buy Macallan?

Macallan 31 Year Old / The Marriage / Vintage Bottlers Speyside Whisky suits whisky enthusiasts looking for a well-rounded, complex dram. It rewards those with some experience and an appreciation for character.

Who should buy The?

The Balvenie 40 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.

Tasting notes

Both taste of

SherriedVanilla

Only Macallan 31 Year Old / The Marriage / Vintage Bottlers Speyside Whisky

ChocolateDried FruitToasted

Only The Balvenie 40 Year Old

Old WoodHoney

Explore more