Dalmore 21 Year Old 1990 (cask 7152) - Directors' Cut (Douglas Laing) vs Tomintoul 1981 (cask 5985) - Vintage Single Cask

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

Dalmore 21 Year Old 1990 (cask 7152) - Directors' Cut (Douglas Laing)Tomintoul 1981 (cask 5985) - Vintage Single Cask
DistilleryDalmoreTomintoul
RegionHighlandSpeyside
CountryScotlandScotland
TypeSingle MaltSingle Malt
ABV54.7%53.9%
Age21 yr31 yr
Price£168.29£223.7
Rating4.00/55.00/5

Dalmore 21 Year Old 1990 (cask 7152) - Directors' Cut (Douglas Laing)

Smoke0/100
Sweetness53/100
Beginner45/100
Value24/100

Tomintoul 1981 (cask 5985) - Vintage Single Cask

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

Dalmore 21 Year Old 1990 (cask 7152) - Directors' Cut (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 4.00).

Dalmore 21 Year Old 1990 (cask 7152) - Directors' Cut (Douglas Laing) is better value at £168 vs £224.

For beginners: Dalmore 21 Year Old 1990 (cask 7152) - Directors' Cut (Douglas Laing) is more approachable (45/100 beginner score).

Dalmore 21 Year Old 1990 (cask 7152) - Directors' Cut (Douglas Laing)

Pros

  • +Better value for money
  • +More affordable (£168.29 vs £223.7)
  • +Vibrant, fresh fruit character

Cons

  • High ABV (54.7%) — may need water
  • Lower community rating (4.0 vs 5.0)

Tomintoul 1981 (cask 5985) - Vintage Single Cask

Pros

  • +Higher community rating (5.0/5)
  • +Longer maturation (31 vs 21 years)
  • +More widely reviewed by the community
  • +Vibrant, fresh fruit character

Cons

  • High ABV (53.9%) — may need water
  • More expensive (£223.7 vs £168.29)

Who should buy Dalmore?

Dalmore 21 Year Old 1990 (cask 7152) - Directors' Cut (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 WoodDried FruitToasted

Only Dalmore 21 Year Old 1990 (cask 7152) - Directors' Cut (Douglas Laing)

SherriedChocolate

Only Tomintoul 1981 (cask 5985) - Vintage Single Cask

HoneyVanilla

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