Bushmills 2002 (bottled 2022) Vermouth Cask Finish - The Causeway Collection vs Tomintoul 1981 (cask 5985) - Vintage Single Cask

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

Bushmills 2002 (bottled 2022) Vermouth Cask Finish - The Causeway CollectionTomintoul 1981 (cask 5985) - Vintage Single Cask
DistilleryBushmillsTomintoul
RegionSpeyside
CountryIrelandScotland
TypeSingle MaltSingle Malt
ABV48.2%53.9%
AgeNAS31 yr
Price£299£223.7
Rating5.00/5

Bushmills 2002 (bottled 2022) Vermouth Cask Finish - The Causeway Collection

Smoke0/100
Sweetness69/100
Beginner70/100
Value0/100

Tomintoul 1981 (cask 5985) - Vintage Single Cask

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

Bushmills 2002 (bottled 2022) Vermouth Cask Finish - The Causeway Collection

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 £299.

For beginners: Bushmills 2002 (bottled 2022) Vermouth Cask Finish - The Causeway Collection is more approachable (70/100 beginner score).

Bushmills 2002 (bottled 2022) Vermouth Cask Finish - The Causeway Collection

Pros

  • +Approachable and beginner-friendly sweetness
  • +Great entry point for new whisky drinkers
  • +Vibrant, fresh fruit character

Cons

  • More expensive (£299 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 £299)
  • +More widely reviewed by the community

Cons

  • High ABV (53.9%) — may need water

Who should buy Bushmills?

Bushmills 2002 (bottled 2022) Vermouth Cask Finish - The Causeway Collection 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

HoneyVanilla

Only Bushmills 2002 (bottled 2022) Vermouth Cask Finish - The Causeway Collection

SherriedFresh FruitCitric

Only Tomintoul 1981 (cask 5985) - Vintage Single Cask

Old WoodDried FruitToasted

Explore more