Tomintoul 1981 (cask 5985) - Vintage Single Cask vs Benrinnes 28 Year Old 1997 - Decadent Drams (Decadent Drinks)

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

Tomintoul 1981 (cask 5985) - Vintage Single CaskBenrinnes 28 Year Old 1997 - Decadent Drams (Decadent Drinks)
DistilleryTomintoulBenrinnes
RegionSpeysideSpeyside
CountryScotlandScotland
TypeSingle MaltSingle Malt
ABV53.9%52.4%
Age31 yr28 yr
Price£223.7£341.5
Rating5.00/5

Tomintoul 1981 (cask 5985) - Vintage Single Cask

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

Benrinnes 28 Year Old 1997 - Decadent Drams (Decadent Drinks)

Smoke64/100
Sweetness53/100
Beginner35/100
Value0/100

Tomintoul 1981 (cask 5985) - Vintage Single Cask

SmokySweetFruitySpicyWoodyFloral

Benrinnes 28 Year Old 1997 - Decadent Drams (Decadent Drinks)

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 £342.

For beginners: Tomintoul 1981 (cask 5985) - Vintage Single Cask is more approachable (45/100 beginner score).

Tomintoul 1981 (cask 5985) - Vintage Single Cask

Pros

  • +Better value for money
  • +Higher community rating (5.0/5)
  • +More affordable (£223.7 vs £341.5)
  • +Longer maturation (31 vs 28 years)

Cons

  • High ABV (53.9%) — may need water
  • Lacks smoke character compared to the alternative

Benrinnes 28 Year Old 1997 - Decadent Drams (Decadent Drinks)

Pros

  • +Balanced smoky character without being overwhelming
  • +Vibrant, fresh fruit character

Cons

  • High ABV (52.4%) — may need water
  • More expensive (£341.5 vs £223.7)
  • 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 Benrinnes?

Benrinnes 28 Year Old 1997 - Decadent Drams (Decadent Drinks) 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

Dried FruitToasted

Only Tomintoul 1981 (cask 5985) - Vintage Single Cask

Old WoodHoneyVanilla

Only Benrinnes 28 Year Old 1997 - Decadent Drams (Decadent Drinks)

SherriedChocolateSmokey

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