Littlemill 25 Year Old 1988 (cask 10349) - Directors' Cut (Douglas Laing) vs Tomintoul 1981 (cask 5985) - Vintage Single Cask
Side-by-side comparison — price, ABV, scores, tasting notes, pros & cons.
Littlemill 25 Year Old 1988 (cask 10349) - Directors' Cut (Douglas Laing)
Littlemill
★ 4.00
£170
Tomintoul 1981 (cask 5985) - Vintage Single Cask
Tomintoul
★ 5.00
£224
| Littlemill 25 Year Old 1988 (cask 10349) - Directors' Cut (Douglas Laing) | Tomintoul 1981 (cask 5985) - Vintage Single Cask | |
|---|---|---|
| Distillery | Littlemill | Tomintoul |
| Region | Lowland | Speyside |
| Country | Scotland | Scotland |
| Type | Single Malt | Single Malt |
| ABV | 56.2% | 53.9% |
| Age | 25 yr | 31 yr |
| Price | £169.73 | £223.7 |
| Rating | 4.00/5 | 5.00/5 |
Littlemill 25 Year Old 1988 (cask 10349) - Directors' Cut (Douglas Laing)
Tomintoul 1981 (cask 5985) - Vintage Single Cask
Littlemill 25 Year Old 1988 (cask 10349) - Directors' Cut (Douglas Laing)
Tomintoul 1981 (cask 5985) - Vintage Single Cask
Quick verdict
Tomintoul 1981 (cask 5985) - Vintage Single Cask is rated higher (5.00 vs 4.00).
Littlemill 25 Year Old 1988 (cask 10349) - Directors' Cut (Douglas Laing) is better value at £170 vs £224.
For beginners: Littlemill 25 Year Old 1988 (cask 10349) - Directors' Cut (Douglas Laing) is more approachable (50/100 beginner score).
Littlemill 25 Year Old 1988 (cask 10349) - Directors' Cut (Douglas Laing)
Pros
- +Approachable and beginner-friendly sweetness
- +Better value for money
- +More affordable (£169.73 vs £223.7)
Cons
- −High ABV (56.2%) — 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 25 years)
- +More widely reviewed by the community
- +Vibrant, fresh fruit character
Cons
- −High ABV (53.9%) — may need water
- −More expensive (£223.7 vs £169.73)
Who should buy Littlemill?
Littlemill 25 Year Old 1988 (cask 10349) - Directors' Cut (Douglas Laing) 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.
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
Only Littlemill 25 Year Old 1988 (cask 10349) - Directors' Cut (Douglas Laing)
Only Tomintoul 1981 (cask 5985) - Vintage Single Cask