Highland Park 20 Year Old (Distillery 4 Rare Release) - Highland Whisky Festival 2024 (The Scotch Malt Whisky Society) vs Tomintoul 1981 (cask 5985) - Vintage Single Cask

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

Highland Park 20 Year Old (Distillery 4 Rare Release) - Highland Whisky Festival 2024 (The Scotch Malt Whisky Society)Tomintoul 1981 (cask 5985) - Vintage Single Cask
DistilleryHighland ParkTomintoul
RegionIslandSpeyside
CountryScotlandScotland
TypeSingle MaltSingle Malt
ABV54.7%53.9%
Age20 yr31 yr
Price£299£223.7
Rating5.00/5

Highland Park 20 Year Old (Distillery 4 Rare Release) - Highland Whisky Festival 2024 (The Scotch Malt Whisky Society)

Smoke68/100
Sweetness0/100
Beginner30/100
Value0/100

Tomintoul 1981 (cask 5985) - Vintage Single Cask

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

Highland Park 20 Year Old (Distillery 4 Rare Release) - Highland Whisky Festival 2024 (The Scotch Malt Whisky Society)

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 £299.

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

Highland Park 20 Year Old (Distillery 4 Rare Release) - Highland Whisky Festival 2024 (The Scotch Malt Whisky Society)

Pros

  • +Balanced smoky character without being overwhelming

Cons

  • High ABV (54.7%) — may need water
  • More expensive (£299 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 £299)
  • +Longer maturation (31 vs 20 years)

Cons

  • High ABV (53.9%) — may need water
  • Lacks smoke character compared to the alternative

Who should buy Highland?

Highland Park 20 Year Old (Distillery 4 Rare Release) - Highland Whisky Festival 2024 (The Scotch Malt Whisky Society) 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

Only Highland Park 20 Year Old (Distillery 4 Rare Release) - Highland Whisky Festival 2024 (The Scotch Malt Whisky Society)

SmokeyMedicinalOily

Only Tomintoul 1981 (cask 5985) - Vintage Single Cask

Old WoodHoneyVanillaDried FruitToasted

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