Blair Athol 1988 / 27 Year Old / Signatory / Exclusive to The Whisky Exchange Highland Whisky vs Tomintoul 1981 (cask 5985) - Vintage Single Cask

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

Blair Athol 1988 / 27 Year Old / Signatory / Exclusive to The Whisky Exchange Highland WhiskyTomintoul 1981 (cask 5985) - Vintage Single Cask
DistilleryBlair AtholTomintoul
RegionSpeyside
CountryUnited KingdomScotland
TypeSingle Malt
ABV40%53.9%
AgeNAS31 yr
Price£350£223.7
Rating5.00/5

Blair Athol 1988 / 27 Year Old / Signatory / Exclusive to The Whisky Exchange Highland Whisky

Smoke0/100
Sweetness47/100
Beginner70/100
Value0/100

Tomintoul 1981 (cask 5985) - Vintage Single Cask

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

Blair Athol 1988 / 27 Year Old / Signatory / Exclusive to The Whisky Exchange Highland Whisky

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: Blair Athol 1988 / 27 Year Old / Signatory / Exclusive to The Whisky Exchange Highland Whisky is more approachable (70/100 beginner score).

Blair Athol 1988 / 27 Year Old / Signatory / Exclusive to The Whisky Exchange Highland Whisky

Pros

  • +Great entry point for new whisky drinkers
  • +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)
  • +More widely reviewed by the community

Cons

  • High ABV (53.9%) — may need water

Who should buy Blair?

Blair Athol 1988 / 27 Year Old / Signatory / Exclusive to The Whisky Exchange Highland Whisky suits whisky enthusiasts looking for a well-rounded, complex dram. It rewards those with some experience and an appreciation for 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 FruitToasted

Only Blair Athol 1988 / 27 Year Old / Signatory / Exclusive to The Whisky Exchange Highland Whisky

SherriedTobacco

Only Tomintoul 1981 (cask 5985) - Vintage Single Cask

Old WoodHoneyVanilla

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