Balvenie 19 Year Old - The Edge of Burnhead Wood vs Tomintoul 1981 (cask 5985) - Vintage Single Cask

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

Balvenie 19 Year Old - The Edge of Burnhead WoodTomintoul 1981 (cask 5985) - Vintage Single Cask
DistilleryBalvenieTomintoul
RegionSpeysideSpeyside
CountryScotlandScotland
TypeSingle MaltSingle Malt
ABV48.7%53.9%
Age19 yr31 yr
Price£299£223.7
Rating5.00/55.00/5

Balvenie 19 Year Old - The Edge of Burnhead Wood

Smoke0/100
Sweetness44/100
Beginner55/100
Value17/100

Tomintoul 1981 (cask 5985) - Vintage Single Cask

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

Balvenie 19 Year Old - The Edge of Burnhead Wood

SmokySweetFruitySpicyWoodyFloral

Tomintoul 1981 (cask 5985) - Vintage Single Cask

SmokySweetFruitySpicyWoodyFloral

Quick verdict

Tomintoul 1981 (cask 5985) - Vintage Single Cask is better value at £224 vs £299.

For beginners: Balvenie 19 Year Old - The Edge of Burnhead Wood is more approachable (55/100 beginner score).

Balvenie 19 Year Old - The Edge of Burnhead Wood

Pros

  • +Vibrant, fresh fruit character

Cons

  • More expensive (£299 vs £223.7)

Tomintoul 1981 (cask 5985) - Vintage Single Cask

Pros

  • +Better value for money
  • +More affordable (£223.7 vs £299)
  • +Longer maturation (31 vs 19 years)
  • +More widely reviewed by the community

Cons

  • High ABV (53.9%) — may need water

Who should buy Balvenie?

Balvenie 19 Year Old - The Edge of Burnhead Wood suits whisky enthusiasts looking for a well-rounded, complex dram. It rewards those with some experience and an appreciation for Speyside character.

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.

Tasting notes

Both taste of

HoneyToasted

Only Balvenie 19 Year Old - The Edge of Burnhead Wood

Fresh FruitFragant

Only Tomintoul 1981 (cask 5985) - Vintage Single Cask

Old WoodVanillaDried Fruit

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