Tomintoul 1981 (cask 5985) - Vintage Single Cask vs Ardmore 2002 / 21 Year Old / Poker Face / Hidden Spirits Highland Whisky

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

Tomintoul 1981 (cask 5985) - Vintage Single CaskArdmore 2002 / 21 Year Old / Poker Face / Hidden Spirits Highland Whisky
DistilleryTomintoulArdmore
RegionSpeyside
CountryScotlandUnited Kingdom
TypeSingle Malt
ABV53.9%40%
Age31 yrNAS
Price£223.7£349
Rating5.00/5

Tomintoul 1981 (cask 5985) - Vintage Single Cask

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

Ardmore 2002 / 21 Year Old / Poker Face / Hidden Spirits Highland Whisky

Smoke0/100
Sweetness65/100
Beginner85/100
Value0/100

Tomintoul 1981 (cask 5985) - Vintage Single Cask

SmokySweetFruitySpicyWoodyFloral

Ardmore 2002 / 21 Year Old / Poker Face / Hidden Spirits Highland Whisky

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 £349.

For beginners: Ardmore 2002 / 21 Year Old / Poker Face / Hidden Spirits Highland 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 affordable (£223.7 vs £349)
  • +More widely reviewed by the community

Cons

  • High ABV (53.9%) — may need water

Ardmore 2002 / 21 Year Old / Poker Face / Hidden Spirits Highland Whisky

Pros

  • +Approachable and beginner-friendly sweetness
  • +Great entry point for new whisky drinkers
  • +Vibrant, fresh fruit character

Cons

  • More expensive (£349 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 Ardmore?

Ardmore 2002 / 21 Year Old / Poker Face / Hidden Spirits Highland 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

Honey

Only Tomintoul 1981 (cask 5985) - Vintage Single Cask

Old WoodVanillaDried FruitToasted

Only Ardmore 2002 / 21 Year Old / Poker Face / Hidden Spirits Highland Whisky

Fresh FruitChocolate

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