Benriach 19 Year Old 2001 (cask 18097) - Old Malt Cask (Hunter Laing) vs Tomintoul 1981 (cask 5985) - Vintage Single Cask
Side-by-side comparison — price, ABV, scores, tasting notes, pros & cons.
Benriach 19 Year Old 2001 (cask 18097) - Old Malt Cask (Hunter Laing)
Benriach
£160
Tomintoul 1981 (cask 5985) - Vintage Single Cask
Tomintoul
★ 5.00
£224
| Benriach 19 Year Old 2001 (cask 18097) - Old Malt Cask (Hunter Laing) | Tomintoul 1981 (cask 5985) - Vintage Single Cask | |
|---|---|---|
| Distillery | Benriach | Tomintoul |
| Region | Speyside | Speyside |
| Country | Scotland | Scotland |
| Type | Single Malt | Single Malt |
| ABV | 50% | 53.9% |
| Age | 19 yr | 31 yr |
| Price | £159.99 | £223.7 |
| Rating | — | 5.00/5 |
Benriach 19 Year Old 2001 (cask 18097) - Old Malt Cask (Hunter Laing)
Tomintoul 1981 (cask 5985) - Vintage Single Cask
Benriach 19 Year Old 2001 (cask 18097) - Old Malt Cask (Hunter Laing)
Tomintoul 1981 (cask 5985) - Vintage Single Cask
Quick verdict
Tomintoul 1981 (cask 5985) - Vintage Single Cask is rated higher (5.00 vs 0.00).
Benriach 19 Year Old 2001 (cask 18097) - Old Malt Cask (Hunter Laing) is better value at £160 vs £224.
For beginners: Benriach 19 Year Old 2001 (cask 18097) - Old Malt Cask (Hunter Laing) is more approachable (70/100 beginner score).
Benriach 19 Year Old 2001 (cask 18097) - Old Malt Cask (Hunter Laing)
Pros
- +Approachable and beginner-friendly sweetness
- +Great entry point for new whisky drinkers
- +More affordable (£159.99 vs £223.7)
- +Rich oak and wood spice complexity
Cons
- −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)
- +Longer maturation (31 vs 19 years)
- +More widely reviewed by the community
Cons
- −High ABV (53.9%) — may need water
- −More expensive (£223.7 vs £159.99)
Who should buy Benriach?
Benriach 19 Year Old 2001 (cask 18097) - Old Malt Cask (Hunter 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.
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
Only Benriach 19 Year Old 2001 (cask 18097) - Old Malt Cask (Hunter Laing)
Only Tomintoul 1981 (cask 5985) - Vintage Single Cask