Craigellachie 17 Year Old (bottled 2023) (casks 2, 3, 4) - Exceptional Cask Series (Master of Malt Exclusive) vs Tomintoul 1981 (cask 5985) - Vintage Single Cask
Side-by-side comparison — price, ABV, scores, tasting notes, pros & cons.
Craigellachie 17 Year Old (bottled 2023) (casks 2, 3, 4) - Exceptional Cask Series (Master of Malt Exclusive)
Craigellachie
£224
Tomintoul 1981 (cask 5985) - Vintage Single Cask
Tomintoul
★ 5.00
£224
| Craigellachie 17 Year Old (bottled 2023) (casks 2, 3, 4) - Exceptional Cask Series (Master of Malt Exclusive) | Tomintoul 1981 (cask 5985) - Vintage Single Cask | |
|---|---|---|
| Distillery | Craigellachie | Tomintoul |
| Region | Speyside | Speyside |
| Country | Scotland | Scotland |
| Type | Single Malt | Single Malt |
| ABV | 54.7% | 53.9% |
| Age | 17 yr | 31 yr |
| Price | £223.5 | £223.7 |
| Rating | — | 5.00/5 |
Craigellachie 17 Year Old (bottled 2023) (casks 2, 3, 4) - Exceptional Cask Series (Master of Malt Exclusive)
Tomintoul 1981 (cask 5985) - Vintage Single Cask
Craigellachie 17 Year Old (bottled 2023) (casks 2, 3, 4) - Exceptional Cask Series (Master of Malt Exclusive)
Tomintoul 1981 (cask 5985) - Vintage Single Cask
Quick verdict
Tomintoul 1981 (cask 5985) - Vintage Single Cask is rated higher (5.00 vs 0.00).
Craigellachie 17 Year Old (bottled 2023) (casks 2, 3, 4) - Exceptional Cask Series (Master of Malt Exclusive) is better value at £224 vs £224.
For beginners: Craigellachie 17 Year Old (bottled 2023) (casks 2, 3, 4) - Exceptional Cask Series (Master of Malt Exclusive) is more approachable (45/100 beginner score).
Craigellachie 17 Year Old (bottled 2023) (casks 2, 3, 4) - Exceptional Cask Series (Master of Malt Exclusive)
Pros
- +More affordable (£223.5 vs £223.7)
- +Vibrant, fresh fruit character
Cons
- −High ABV (54.7%) — may need water
- −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 17 years)
- +More widely reviewed by the community
Cons
- −High ABV (53.9%) — may need water
- −More expensive (£223.7 vs £223.5)
Who should buy Craigellachie?
Craigellachie 17 Year Old (bottled 2023) (casks 2, 3, 4) - Exceptional Cask Series (Master of Malt Exclusive) 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
Only Craigellachie 17 Year Old (bottled 2023) (casks 2, 3, 4) - Exceptional Cask Series (Master of Malt Exclusive)
Only Tomintoul 1981 (cask 5985) - Vintage Single Cask