Old Pulteney 8 Year Old (Gordon & MacPhail) - 1970s vs Tomintoul 1981 (cask 5985) - Vintage Single Cask

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

Old Pulteney 8 Year Old (Gordon & MacPhail) - 1970sTomintoul 1981 (cask 5985) - Vintage Single Cask
DistilleryPulteneyTomintoul
RegionSpeyside
CountryScotlandScotland
TypeSingle MaltSingle Malt
ABV40%53.9%
Age8 yr31 yr
Price£299£223.7
Rating5.00/5

Old Pulteney 8 Year Old (Gordon & MacPhail) - 1970s

Smoke0/100
Sweetness51/100
Beginner70/100
Value0/100

Tomintoul 1981 (cask 5985) - Vintage Single Cask

Smoke0/100
Sweetness64/100
Beginner45/100
Value22/100

Old Pulteney 8 Year Old (Gordon & MacPhail) - 1970s

SmokySweetFruitySpicyWoodyFloral

Tomintoul 1981 (cask 5985) - Vintage Single Cask

SmokySweetFruitySpicyWoodyFloral

Quick verdict

Tomintoul 1981 (cask 5985) - Vintage Single Cask is rated higher (5.00 vs 0.00).

Tomintoul 1981 (cask 5985) - Vintage Single Cask is better value at £224 vs £299.

For beginners: Old Pulteney 8 Year Old (Gordon & MacPhail) - 1970s is more approachable (70/100 beginner score).

Old Pulteney 8 Year Old (Gordon & MacPhail) - 1970s

Pros

  • +Great entry point for new whisky drinkers

Cons

  • More expensive (£299 vs £223.7)
  • 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)
  • +More affordable (£223.7 vs £299)
  • +Longer maturation (31 vs 8 years)

Cons

  • High ABV (53.9%) — may need water

Who should buy Old?

Old Pulteney 8 Year Old (Gordon & MacPhail) - 1970s suits whisky enthusiasts looking for a well-rounded, complex dram. It rewards those with some experience and an appreciation for Single Malt character.

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

Both taste of

HoneyToasted

Only Old Pulteney 8 Year Old (Gordon & MacPhail) - 1970s

Malt ExtractFresh Fruit

Only Tomintoul 1981 (cask 5985) - Vintage Single Cask

Old WoodVanillaDried Fruit

Explore more