Caledonian 40 Year Old 1976 (cask 11341) - Xtra Old Particular (Douglas Laing) vs Tomintoul 1981 (cask 5985) - Vintage Single Cask

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

Caledonian 40 Year Old 1976 (cask 11341) - Xtra Old Particular (Douglas Laing)Tomintoul 1981 (cask 5985) - Vintage Single Cask
DistilleryCaledonianTomintoul
RegionSpeyside
CountryScotlandScotland
TypeGrainSingle Malt
ABV54.9%53.9%
Age40 yr31 yr
Price£304.19£223.7
Rating5.00/5

Caledonian 40 Year Old 1976 (cask 11341) - Xtra Old Particular (Douglas Laing)

Smoke0/100
Sweetness57/100
Beginner45/100
Value0/100

Tomintoul 1981 (cask 5985) - Vintage Single Cask

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

Caledonian 40 Year Old 1976 (cask 11341) - Xtra Old Particular (Douglas Laing)

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 £304.

For beginners: Caledonian 40 Year Old 1976 (cask 11341) - Xtra Old Particular (Douglas Laing) is more approachable (45/100 beginner score).

Caledonian 40 Year Old 1976 (cask 11341) - Xtra Old Particular (Douglas Laing)

Pros

  • +Longer maturation (40 vs 31 years)

Cons

  • High ABV (54.9%) — may need water
  • More expensive (£304.19 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 £304.19)
  • +More widely reviewed by the community

Cons

  • High ABV (53.9%) — may need water

Who should buy Caledonian?

Caledonian 40 Year Old 1976 (cask 11341) - Xtra Old Particular (Douglas Laing) 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.

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

Old WoodToastedVanilla

Only Caledonian 40 Year Old 1976 (cask 11341) - Xtra Old Particular (Douglas Laing)

OilyMalt Extract

Only Tomintoul 1981 (cask 5985) - Vintage Single Cask

HoneyDried Fruit

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