Tomintoul 1981 (cask 5985) - Vintage Single Cask vs Craigellachie 17 Year Old (bottled 2023) (casks 2, 3, 4) - Exceptional Cask Series (Master of Malt Exclusive)
Side-by-side comparison — price, ABV, scores, tasting notes, pros & cons.
Tomintoul 1981 (cask 5985) - Vintage Single Cask
Tomintoul
★ 5.00
£224
Craigellachie 17 Year Old (bottled 2023) (casks 2, 3, 4) - Exceptional Cask Series (Master of Malt Exclusive)
Craigellachie
£224
| Tomintoul 1981 (cask 5985) - Vintage Single Cask | Craigellachie 17 Year Old (bottled 2023) (casks 2, 3, 4) - Exceptional Cask Series (Master of Malt Exclusive) | |
|---|---|---|
| Distillery | Tomintoul | Craigellachie |
| Region | Speyside | Speyside |
| Country | Scotland | Scotland |
| Type | Single Malt | Single Malt |
| ABV | 53.9% | 54.7% |
| Age | 31 yr | 17 yr |
| Price | £223.7 | £223.5 |
| Rating | 5.00/5 | — |
Tomintoul 1981 (cask 5985) - Vintage Single Cask
Craigellachie 17 Year Old (bottled 2023) (casks 2, 3, 4) - Exceptional Cask Series (Master of Malt Exclusive)
Tomintoul 1981 (cask 5985) - Vintage Single Cask
Craigellachie 17 Year Old (bottled 2023) (casks 2, 3, 4) - Exceptional Cask Series (Master of Malt Exclusive)
Quick verdict
Tomintoul 1981 (cask 5985) - Vintage Single Cask is rated higher (5.00 vs 0.00).
Craigellachie 17 Year Old (bottled 2023) (casks 2, 3, 4) - Exceptional Cask Series (Master of Malt Exclusive) is better value at £224 vs £224.
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)
- +Longer maturation (31 vs 17 years)
- +More widely reviewed by the community
Cons
- −High ABV (53.9%) — may need water
- −More expensive (£223.7 vs £223.5)
Craigellachie 17 Year Old (bottled 2023) (casks 2, 3, 4) - Exceptional Cask Series (Master of Malt Exclusive)
Pros
- +More affordable (£223.5 vs £223.7)
- +Vibrant, fresh fruit character
Cons
- −High ABV (54.7%) — 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 Craigellachie?
Craigellachie 17 Year Old (bottled 2023) (casks 2, 3, 4) - Exceptional Cask Series (Master of Malt Exclusive) 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
Only Tomintoul 1981 (cask 5985) - Vintage Single Cask
Only Craigellachie 17 Year Old (bottled 2023) (casks 2, 3, 4) - Exceptional Cask Series (Master of Malt Exclusive)