Tomintoul 1981 (cask 5985) - Vintage Single Cask vs Probably Orkney's Finest Distillery 21 Year Old 1999 (cask 14288) - Old Particular (Douglas Laing)

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

Tomintoul 1981 (cask 5985) - Vintage Single CaskProbably Orkney's Finest Distillery 21 Year Old 1999 (cask 14288) - Old Particular (Douglas Laing)
DistilleryTomintoulDouglas Laing
RegionSpeyside
CountryScotlandScotland
TypeSingle MaltSingle Malt
ABV53.9%51.5%
Age31 yr21 yr
Price£223.7£164.54
Rating5.00/5

Tomintoul 1981 (cask 5985) - Vintage Single Cask

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

Probably Orkney's Finest Distillery 21 Year Old 1999 (cask 14288) - Old Particular (Douglas Laing)

Smoke0/100
Sweetness73/100
Beginner60/100
Value0/100

Tomintoul 1981 (cask 5985) - Vintage Single Cask

SmokySweetFruitySpicyWoodyFloral

Probably Orkney's Finest Distillery 21 Year Old 1999 (cask 14288) - Old Particular (Douglas Laing)

SmokySweetFruitySpicyWoodyFloral

Quick verdict

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

Probably Orkney's Finest Distillery 21 Year Old 1999 (cask 14288) - Old Particular (Douglas Laing) is better value at £165 vs £224.

For beginners: Probably Orkney's Finest Distillery 21 Year Old 1999 (cask 14288) - Old Particular (Douglas Laing) is more approachable (60/100 beginner score).

Tomintoul 1981 (cask 5985) - Vintage Single Cask

Pros

  • +Better value for money
  • +Higher community rating (5.0/5)
  • +Longer maturation (31 vs 21 years)
  • +More widely reviewed by the community

Cons

  • High ABV (53.9%) — may need water
  • More expensive (£223.7 vs £164.54)

Probably Orkney's Finest Distillery 21 Year Old 1999 (cask 14288) - Old Particular (Douglas Laing)

Pros

  • +Approachable and beginner-friendly sweetness
  • +More affordable (£164.54 vs £223.7)

Cons

  • High ABV (51.5%) — may need water
  • 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 Probably?

Probably Orkney's Finest Distillery 21 Year Old 1999 (cask 14288) - Old Particular (Douglas Laing) suits those who enjoy sweet, honeyed, or fruity whiskies. It's accessible for beginners and crowd-pleasing enough for gifts. Fans of approachable Speyside or Irish whiskey will love it.

Tasting notes

Both taste of

Old WoodHoney

Only Tomintoul 1981 (cask 5985) - Vintage Single Cask

VanillaDried FruitToasted

Only Probably Orkney's Finest Distillery 21 Year Old 1999 (cask 14288) - Old Particular (Douglas Laing)

SherriedTobacco

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