Ledaig 17 Year Old 2005 (cask 900038) - Cask Strength Collection (Signatory) vs Tomintoul 1981 (cask 5985) - Vintage Single Cask

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

Ledaig 17 Year Old 2005 (cask 900038) - Cask Strength Collection (Signatory)Tomintoul 1981 (cask 5985) - Vintage Single Cask
DistilleryTobermoryTomintoul
RegionIslandSpeyside
CountryScotlandScotland
TypeSingle MaltSingle Malt
ABV65%53.9%
Age17 yr31 yr
Price£228.5£223.7
Rating5.00/5

Ledaig 17 Year Old 2005 (cask 900038) - Cask Strength Collection (Signatory)

Smoke64/100
Sweetness55/100
Beginner25/100
Value0/100

Tomintoul 1981 (cask 5985) - Vintage Single Cask

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

Ledaig 17 Year Old 2005 (cask 900038) - Cask Strength Collection (Signatory)

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 £229.

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

Ledaig 17 Year Old 2005 (cask 900038) - Cask Strength Collection (Signatory)

Pros

  • +Balanced smoky character without being overwhelming
  • +Vibrant, fresh fruit character

Cons

  • High ABV (65%) — may need water
  • More expensive (£228.5 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 £228.5)
  • +Longer maturation (31 vs 17 years)

Cons

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

Who should buy Ledaig?

Ledaig 17 Year Old 2005 (cask 900038) - Cask Strength Collection (Signatory) 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 Ledaig 17 Year Old 2005 (cask 900038) - Cask Strength Collection (Signatory)

SmokeySherriedOilyLeathery

Only Tomintoul 1981 (cask 5985) - Vintage Single Cask

Old WoodHoneyVanillaToasted

Explore more