Courvoisier XO Year of the Dragon 2024 / Lunar New Year vs Tomintoul 1981 (cask 5985) - Vintage Single Cask

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

Courvoisier XO Year of the Dragon 2024 / Lunar New YearTomintoul 1981 (cask 5985) - Vintage Single Cask
DistilleryCourvoisierTomintoul
RegionSpeyside
CountryUnited KingdomScotland
TypeSingle Malt
ABV40%53.9%
AgeNAS31 yr
Price£295£223.7
Rating5.00/5

Courvoisier XO Year of the Dragon 2024 / Lunar New Year

Smoke0/100
Sweetness68/100
Beginner85/100
Value0/100

Tomintoul 1981 (cask 5985) - Vintage Single Cask

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

Courvoisier XO Year of the Dragon 2024 / Lunar New Year

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 £295.

For beginners: Courvoisier XO Year of the Dragon 2024 / Lunar New Year is more approachable (85/100 beginner score).

Courvoisier XO Year of the Dragon 2024 / Lunar New Year

Pros

  • +Approachable and beginner-friendly sweetness
  • +Great entry point for new whisky drinkers
  • +Rich oak and wood spice complexity

Cons

  • More expensive (£295 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 £295)
  • +More widely reviewed by the community

Cons

  • High ABV (53.9%) — may need water

Who should buy Courvoisier?

Courvoisier XO Year of the Dragon 2024 / Lunar New Year is an ideal first whisky — sweet, approachable, and widely available. It's a great gift and a safe choice for anyone new to whisky or who prefers lighter, friendlier drams.

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

VanillaOld WoodHoneyToasted

Only Tomintoul 1981 (cask 5985) - Vintage Single Cask

Dried Fruit

Explore more