Darkness! Caol Ila 18 Year Old Moscatel Cask Finish vs Tomintoul 1981 (cask 5985) - Vintage Single Cask
Side-by-side comparison — price, ABV, scores, tasting notes, pros & cons.
Darkness! Caol Ila 18 Year Old Moscatel Cask Finish
Caol Ila
£193
Tomintoul 1981 (cask 5985) - Vintage Single Cask
Tomintoul
★ 5.00
£224
| Darkness! Caol Ila 18 Year Old Moscatel Cask Finish | Tomintoul 1981 (cask 5985) - Vintage Single Cask | |
|---|---|---|
| Distillery | Caol Ila | Tomintoul |
| Region | Islay | Speyside |
| Country | Scotland | Scotland |
| Type | Single Malt | Single Malt |
| ABV | 67.3% | 53.9% |
| Age | 18 yr | 31 yr |
| Price | £192.95 | £223.7 |
| Rating | — | 5.00/5 |
Darkness! Caol Ila 18 Year Old Moscatel Cask Finish
Tomintoul 1981 (cask 5985) - Vintage Single Cask
Darkness! Caol Ila 18 Year Old Moscatel Cask Finish
Tomintoul 1981 (cask 5985) - Vintage Single Cask
Quick verdict
Tomintoul 1981 (cask 5985) - Vintage Single Cask is rated higher (5.00 vs 0.00).
Darkness! Caol Ila 18 Year Old Moscatel Cask Finish is better value at £193 vs £224.
For beginners: Tomintoul 1981 (cask 5985) - Vintage Single Cask is more approachable (45/100 beginner score).
Darkness! Caol Ila 18 Year Old Moscatel Cask Finish
Pros
- +Balanced smoky character without being overwhelming
- +More affordable (£192.95 vs £223.7)
Cons
- −High ABV (67.3%) — may need water
- −Lower community rating (0.0 vs 5.0)
Tomintoul 1981 (cask 5985) - Vintage Single Cask
Pros
- +Better value for money
- +Higher community rating (5.0/5)
- +Longer maturation (31 vs 18 years)
- +More widely reviewed by the community
Cons
- −High ABV (53.9%) — may need water
- −More expensive (£223.7 vs £192.95)
- −Lacks smoke character compared to the alternative
Who should buy Darkness!?
Darkness! Caol Ila 18 Year Old Moscatel Cask Finish is for enthusiasts who appreciate cask-strength intensity. Best enjoyed with a few drops of water to open up the flavours. Not ideal for casual drinking or beginners.
Who should buy Tomintoul?
Tomintoul 1981 (cask 5985) - Vintage Single Cask is for enthusiasts who appreciate cask-strength intensity. Best enjoyed with a few drops of water to open up the flavours. Not ideal for casual drinking or beginners.
Tasting notes
Only Darkness! Caol Ila 18 Year Old Moscatel Cask Finish
Only Tomintoul 1981 (cask 5985) - Vintage Single Cask