Glenfarclas 14 Year Old 2005 (cask 2855) - Spirit of Speyside 2020 vs Tomintoul 1981 (cask 5985) - Vintage Single Cask

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

Glenfarclas 14 Year Old 2005 (cask 2855) - Spirit of Speyside 2020Tomintoul 1981 (cask 5985) - Vintage Single Cask
DistilleryGlenfarclasTomintoul
RegionSpeysideSpeyside
CountryScotlandScotland
TypeSingle MaltSingle Malt
ABV58.2%53.9%
Age14 yr31 yr
Price£350£223.7
Rating5.00/5

Glenfarclas 14 Year Old 2005 (cask 2855) - Spirit of Speyside 2020

Smoke0/100
Sweetness53/100
Beginner35/100
Value0/100

Tomintoul 1981 (cask 5985) - Vintage Single Cask

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

Glenfarclas 14 Year Old 2005 (cask 2855) - Spirit of Speyside 2020

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 £350.

For beginners: Tomintoul 1981 (cask 5985) - Vintage Single Cask is more approachable (45/100 beginner score).

Glenfarclas 14 Year Old 2005 (cask 2855) - Spirit of Speyside 2020

Pros

  • +Vibrant, fresh fruit character

Cons

  • High ABV (58.2%) — may need water
  • More expensive (£350 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 £350)
  • +Longer maturation (31 vs 14 years)

Cons

  • High ABV (53.9%) — may need water

Who should buy Glenfarclas?

Glenfarclas 14 Year Old 2005 (cask 2855) - Spirit of Speyside 2020 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

Dried Fruit

Only Glenfarclas 14 Year Old 2005 (cask 2855) - Spirit of Speyside 2020

SherriedChocolateNutty

Only Tomintoul 1981 (cask 5985) - Vintage Single Cask

Old WoodHoneyVanillaToasted

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