Ben Nevis 21 Year Old 1992 (cask 2311) - First Cask vs Tomintoul 1981 (cask 5985) - Vintage Single Cask

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

Ben Nevis 21 Year Old 1992 (cask 2311) - First CaskTomintoul 1981 (cask 5985) - Vintage Single Cask
DistilleryBen NevisTomintoul
RegionHighlandSpeyside
CountryScotlandScotland
TypeSingle MaltSingle Malt
ABV46%53.9%
Age21 yr31 yr
Price£350£223.7
Rating5.00/5

Ben Nevis 21 Year Old 1992 (cask 2311) - First Cask

Smoke0/100
Sweetness53/100
Beginner60/100
Value0/100

Tomintoul 1981 (cask 5985) - Vintage Single Cask

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

Ben Nevis 21 Year Old 1992 (cask 2311) - First Cask

SmokySweetFruitySpicyWoodyFloral

Tomintoul 1981 (cask 5985) - Vintage Single Cask

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 £350.

For beginners: Ben Nevis 21 Year Old 1992 (cask 2311) - First Cask is more approachable (60/100 beginner score).

Ben Nevis 21 Year Old 1992 (cask 2311) - First Cask

Pros

  • +Vibrant, fresh fruit character

Cons

  • More expensive (£350 vs £223.7)
  • Lower community rating (0.0 vs 5.0)

Tomintoul 1981 (cask 5985) - Vintage Single Cask

Pros

  • +Better value for money
  • +Higher community rating (5.0/5)
  • +More affordable (£223.7 vs £350)
  • +Longer maturation (31 vs 21 years)

Cons

  • High ABV (53.9%) — may need water

Who should buy Ben?

Ben Nevis 21 Year Old 1992 (cask 2311) - First Cask suits whisky enthusiasts looking for a well-rounded, complex dram. It rewards those with some experience and an appreciation for Highland 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

Dried FruitOld Wood

Only Ben Nevis 21 Year Old 1992 (cask 2311) - First Cask

SherriedCooked FruitTobacco

Only Tomintoul 1981 (cask 5985) - Vintage Single Cask

HoneyVanillaToasted

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