Mortlach 26 Year Old 1989 (cask 10774) - Xtra Old Particular (Douglas Laing) vs Tomintoul 1981 (cask 5985) - Vintage Single Cask

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

Mortlach 26 Year Old 1989 (cask 10774) - Xtra Old Particular (Douglas Laing)Tomintoul 1981 (cask 5985) - Vintage Single Cask
DistilleryMortlachTomintoul
RegionSpeysideSpeyside
CountryScotlandScotland
TypeSingle MaltSingle Malt
ABV57.8%53.9%
Age26 yr31 yr
Price£275£223.7
Rating5.00/5

Mortlach 26 Year Old 1989 (cask 10774) - Xtra Old Particular (Douglas Laing)

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

Tomintoul 1981 (cask 5985) - Vintage Single Cask

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

Mortlach 26 Year Old 1989 (cask 10774) - Xtra Old Particular (Douglas Laing)

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 £275.

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

Mortlach 26 Year Old 1989 (cask 10774) - Xtra Old Particular (Douglas Laing)

Pros

  • +Vibrant, fresh fruit character

Cons

  • High ABV (57.8%) — may need water
  • More expensive (£275 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 £275)
  • +Longer maturation (31 vs 26 years)

Cons

  • High ABV (53.9%) — may need water

Who should buy Mortlach?

Mortlach 26 Year Old 1989 (cask 10774) - Xtra Old Particular (Douglas Laing) 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

Old WoodDried FruitToasted

Only Mortlach 26 Year Old 1989 (cask 10774) - Xtra Old Particular (Douglas Laing)

ChocolateSherried

Only Tomintoul 1981 (cask 5985) - Vintage Single Cask

HoneyVanilla

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