Darkness! Tomatin 17 Year Old Palo Cortado Cask Finish vs The Lakes Whiskymaker's Reserve No.5

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

Darkness! Tomatin 17 Year Old Palo Cortado Cask FinishThe Lakes Whiskymaker's Reserve No.5
DistilleryTomatinThe Lakes Distillery
RegionHighland
CountryScotlandEngland
TypeSingle MaltSingle Malt
ABV55.3%52%
Age17 yrNAS
Price£82.95£84.95
Rating5.00/5

Darkness! Tomatin 17 Year Old Palo Cortado Cask Finish

Smoke0/100
Sweetness59/100
Beginner40/100
Value0/100

The Lakes Whiskymaker's Reserve No.5

Smoke0/100
Sweetness66/100
Beginner65/100
Value59/100

Darkness! Tomatin 17 Year Old Palo Cortado Cask Finish

SmokySweetFruitySpicyWoodyFloral

The Lakes Whiskymaker's Reserve No.5

SmokySweetFruitySpicyWoodyFloral

Quick verdict

The Lakes Whiskymaker's Reserve No.5 is rated higher (5.00 vs 0.00).

Darkness! Tomatin 17 Year Old Palo Cortado Cask Finish is better value at £83 vs £85.

For beginners: The Lakes Whiskymaker's Reserve No.5 is more approachable (65/100 beginner score).

Darkness! Tomatin 17 Year Old Palo Cortado Cask Finish

Pros

  • +More affordable (£82.95 vs £84.95)
  • +Vibrant, fresh fruit character

Cons

  • High ABV (55.3%) — may need water
  • Lower community rating (0.0 vs 5.0)

The Lakes Whiskymaker's Reserve No.5

Pros

  • +Approachable and beginner-friendly sweetness
  • +Better value for money
  • +Higher community rating (5.0/5)
  • +More widely reviewed by the community

Cons

  • High ABV (52%) — may need water
  • More expensive (£84.95 vs £82.95)

Who should buy Darkness!?

Darkness! Tomatin 17 Year Old Palo Cortado Cask Finish 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 The?

The Lakes Whiskymaker's Reserve No.5 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.

Tasting notes

Both taste of

SherriedHoneyToasted

Only Darkness! Tomatin 17 Year Old Palo Cortado Cask Finish

Dried FruitChocolate

Only The Lakes Whiskymaker's Reserve No.5

Vanilla

Where to buy

Darkness! Tomatin 17 Year Old Palo Cortado Cask Finish

The Lakes Whiskymaker's Reserve No.5

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