Tomintoul 1981 (cask 5985) - Vintage Single Cask vs Bonnington 2020 / 3 Year Old / Inaugural Release / Ruby Port Cask Lowland Whisky

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

Tomintoul 1981 (cask 5985) - Vintage Single CaskBonnington 2020 / 3 Year Old / Inaugural Release / Ruby Port Cask Lowland Whisky
DistilleryTomintoulBonnington
RegionSpeyside
CountryScotlandUnited Kingdom
TypeSingle Malt
ABV53.9%40%
Age31 yrNAS
Price£223.7£175
Rating5.00/5

Tomintoul 1981 (cask 5985) - Vintage Single Cask

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

Bonnington 2020 / 3 Year Old / Inaugural Release / Ruby Port Cask Lowland Whisky

Smoke0/100
Sweetness71/100
Beginner85/100
Value0/100

Tomintoul 1981 (cask 5985) - Vintage Single Cask

SmokySweetFruitySpicyWoodyFloral

Bonnington 2020 / 3 Year Old / Inaugural Release / Ruby Port Cask Lowland Whisky

SmokySweetFruitySpicyWoodyFloral

Quick verdict

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

Bonnington 2020 / 3 Year Old / Inaugural Release / Ruby Port Cask Lowland Whisky is better value at £175 vs £224.

For beginners: Bonnington 2020 / 3 Year Old / Inaugural Release / Ruby Port Cask Lowland Whisky is more approachable (85/100 beginner score).

Tomintoul 1981 (cask 5985) - Vintage Single Cask

Pros

  • +Better value for money
  • +Higher community rating (5.0/5)
  • +More widely reviewed by the community
  • +Vibrant, fresh fruit character

Cons

  • High ABV (53.9%) — may need water
  • More expensive (£223.7 vs £175)

Bonnington 2020 / 3 Year Old / Inaugural Release / Ruby Port Cask Lowland Whisky

Pros

  • +Approachable and beginner-friendly sweetness
  • +Great entry point for new whisky drinkers
  • +More affordable (£175 vs £223.7)

Cons

  • Lower community rating (0.0 vs 5.0)

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.

Who should buy Bonnington?

Bonnington 2020 / 3 Year Old / Inaugural Release / Ruby Port Cask Lowland Whisky 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

HoneyVanilla

Only Tomintoul 1981 (cask 5985) - Vintage Single Cask

Old WoodDried FruitToasted

Only Bonnington 2020 / 3 Year Old / Inaugural Release / Ruby Port Cask Lowland Whisky

Cooked FruitSherried

Explore more