The Balvenie 40 Year Old vs Yamazaki Mizunara 18 Year Old / 2017 Edition Japanese Whisky
Side-by-side comparison — price, ABV, scores, tasting notes, pros & cons.
The Balvenie 40 Year Old
Balvenie
★ 4.80
£7225
Yamazaki Mizunara 18 Year Old / 2017 Edition Japanese Whisky
Yamazaki
£10000
| The Balvenie 40 Year Old | Yamazaki Mizunara 18 Year Old / 2017 Edition Japanese Whisky | |
|---|---|---|
| Distillery | Balvenie | Yamazaki |
| Region | Speyside | — |
| Country | Scotland | United Kingdom |
| Type | Single Malt | |
| ABV | 42.2% | 40% |
| Age | 40 yr | NAS |
| Price | £7225 | £10000 |
| Rating | 4.80/5 | — |
The Balvenie 40 Year Old
Yamazaki Mizunara 18 Year Old / 2017 Edition Japanese Whisky
The Balvenie 40 Year Old
Yamazaki Mizunara 18 Year Old / 2017 Edition Japanese Whisky
Quick verdict
The Balvenie 40 Year Old is rated higher (4.80 vs 0.00).
The Balvenie 40 Year Old is better value at £7225 vs £10000.
For beginners: The Balvenie 40 Year Old is more approachable (85/100 beginner score).
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
- −Lacks smoke character compared to the alternative
Yamazaki Mizunara 18 Year Old / 2017 Edition Japanese Whisky
Pros
- +Intense, complex peat smoke character
- +Vibrant, fresh fruit character
Cons
- −Challenging for beginners — intense and polarising
- −More expensive (£10000 vs £7225)
- −Lower community rating (0.0 vs 4.8)
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.
Who should buy Yamazaki?
Yamazaki Mizunara 18 Year Old / 2017 Edition 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.
Tasting notes
Both taste of
Only The Balvenie 40 Year Old
Only Yamazaki Mizunara 18 Year Old / 2017 Edition Japanese Whisky