Tomintoul 1981 (cask 5985) - Vintage Single Cask vs Edradour 21 Year Old 2003 Bourbon Barrel Matured

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

Tomintoul 1981 (cask 5985) - Vintage Single CaskEdradour 21 Year Old 2003 Bourbon Barrel Matured
DistilleryTomintoulEdradour
RegionSpeysideHighland
CountryScotlandScotland
TypeSingle MaltSingle Malt
ABV53.9%54.3%
Age31 yr21 yr
Price£223.7£268.5
Rating5.00/5

Tomintoul 1981 (cask 5985) - Vintage Single Cask

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

Edradour 21 Year Old 2003 Bourbon Barrel Matured

Smoke0/100
Sweetness45/100
Beginner45/100
Value0/100

Tomintoul 1981 (cask 5985) - Vintage Single Cask

SmokySweetFruitySpicyWoodyFloral

Edradour 21 Year Old 2003 Bourbon Barrel Matured

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 £269.

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 £268.5)
  • +Longer maturation (31 vs 21 years)

Cons

  • High ABV (53.9%) — may need water

Edradour 21 Year Old 2003 Bourbon Barrel Matured

Pros

  • +Vibrant, fresh fruit character

Cons

  • High ABV (54.3%) — may need water
  • More expensive (£268.5 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 Edradour?

Edradour 21 Year Old 2003 Bourbon Barrel Matured 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 WoodToasted

Only Tomintoul 1981 (cask 5985) - Vintage Single Cask

HoneyVanillaDried Fruit

Only Edradour 21 Year Old 2003 Bourbon Barrel Matured

ChocolateCooked FruitNutty

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