Tomintoul 1981 (cask 5985) - Vintage Single Cask vs North British 50 Year Old 1962 (cask 8228) - Directors' Cut (Douglas Laing)

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

Tomintoul 1981 (cask 5985) - Vintage Single CaskNorth British 50 Year Old 1962 (cask 8228) - Directors' Cut (Douglas Laing)
DistilleryTomintoulNorth British
RegionSpeysideLowland
CountryScotlandScotland
TypeSingle MaltGrain
ABV53.9%57.1%
Age31 yr50 yr
Price£223.7£359.95
Rating5.00/5

Tomintoul 1981 (cask 5985) - Vintage Single Cask

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

North British 50 Year Old 1962 (cask 8228) - Directors' Cut (Douglas Laing)

Smoke0/100
Sweetness58/100
Beginner35/100
Value0/100

Tomintoul 1981 (cask 5985) - Vintage Single Cask

SmokySweetFruitySpicyWoodyFloral

North British 50 Year Old 1962 (cask 8228) - Directors' Cut (Douglas Laing)

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 £360.

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 £359.95)
  • +More widely reviewed by the community

Cons

  • High ABV (53.9%) — may need water

North British 50 Year Old 1962 (cask 8228) - Directors' Cut (Douglas Laing)

Pros

  • +Longer maturation (50 vs 31 years)

Cons

  • High ABV (57.1%) — may need water
  • More expensive (£359.95 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 North?

North British 50 Year Old 1962 (cask 8228) - Directors' Cut (Douglas Laing) 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

Old WoodHoney

Only Tomintoul 1981 (cask 5985) - Vintage Single Cask

VanillaDried FruitToasted

Only North British 50 Year Old 1962 (cask 8228) - Directors' Cut (Douglas Laing)

NuttySherriedLeathery

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