Head to head · same region
Glenfiddich 12 Year Old vs The Macallan 12 Year Old Double Cask
One axis separates these two: sherried, 3 against 7.
Compiled by WhiskeyCask Editorial · Last verified 2026-07-30
Specifications side by side
| Glenfiddich 12 Year Old | The Macallan 12 Year Old Double Cask | |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Single malt | Single malt |
| Origin | Speyside, Scotland | Speyside, Scotland |
| Age | 12 years | 12 years |
| Strength | 40% ABV | 40% ABV |
| Cask | Ex-bourbon American oak, European oak | Ex-bourbon American oak, Oloroso sherry-seasoned American oak |
| Bottle | 700 ml | 700 ml |
| RRP observed | £38 | £72 |
| Per 10cl | £5.43 | £10 |
| Per litre of alcohol | £136 | £257 |
| Chill-filtered | Not stated | Not stated |
What separates them
Both Speyside whiskies, from different distilleries.
Both state 12 years.
Shared base of ex-bourbon american oak. Glenfiddich 12 Year Old adds european oak; The Macallan 12 Year Old Double Cask adds oloroso sherry-seasoned american oak.
Neither states chill filtration.
Neither set of specifications is producer-confirmed.
What the price buys
The Macallan 12 Year Old Double Cask is £34 dearer a bottle than Glenfiddich 12 Year Old.
Strength keeps that ordering: £136 a litre of pure alcohol for Glenfiddich 12 Year Old against £257.
Across the 32 bottles we can cost this way, Glenfiddich 12 Year Old is 17th cheapest and The Macallan 12 Year Old Double Cask 29th cheapest.
Flavour, compared
View as table
| Axis | Glenfiddich 12 Year Old | The Macallan 12 Year Old Double Cask |
|---|---|---|
| Peaty | 0 | 0 |
| Sweet | 6 | 7 |
| Fruity | 7 | 6 |
| Spicy | 3 | 4 |
| Woody | 4 | 5 |
| Sherried | 3 | 7 |
| Cereal | 5 | 4 |
| Oily | 4 | 6 |
That is the only axis of the eight to reach 3 points. Next widest is oily, 4 against 6.
Level only on peaty, 0 each.
Each bottle in its own right
Glenfiddich 12 Year Old
Pear and green apple over light malt. The reference point for accessible Speyside.
Full record →The Macallan 12 Year Old Double Cask
Butterscotch, orange and a dry oak finish. Polished and very easy to like.
Full record →No overlap in what we list them for: Glenfiddich 12 Year Old for first single malt and highball, The Macallan 12 Year Old Double Cask for gift and introduction to sherry cask.
Where these specifications come from
Producer and retailer pages for Glenfiddich 12 Year Old and The Macallan 12 Year Old Double Cask: glenfiddich.com, themacallan.com. Figures are what those pages published when we last checked them, on 2026-07-30.