Normandin-Mercier Rare Cognac / 50 Year Old / Petite Champagne vs Tomintoul 1981 (cask 5985) - Vintage Single Cask

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

Normandin-Mercier Rare Cognac / 50 Year Old / Petite ChampagneTomintoul 1981 (cask 5985) - Vintage Single Cask
DistilleryNormandin-MercierTomintoul
RegionSpeyside
CountryUnited KingdomScotland
TypeSingle Malt
ABV40%53.9%
AgeNAS31 yr
Price£302£223.7
Rating5.00/5

Normandin-Mercier Rare Cognac / 50 Year Old / Petite Champagne

Smoke0/100
Sweetness49/100
Beginner70/100
Value0/100

Tomintoul 1981 (cask 5985) - Vintage Single Cask

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

Normandin-Mercier Rare Cognac / 50 Year Old / Petite Champagne

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 £302.

For beginners: Normandin-Mercier Rare Cognac / 50 Year Old / Petite Champagne is more approachable (70/100 beginner score).

Normandin-Mercier Rare Cognac / 50 Year Old / Petite Champagne

Pros

  • +Great entry point for new whisky drinkers
  • +Vibrant, fresh fruit character

Cons

  • More expensive (£302 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 £302)
  • +More widely reviewed by the community

Cons

  • High ABV (53.9%) — may need water

Who should buy Normandin-Mercier?

Normandin-Mercier Rare Cognac / 50 Year Old / Petite Champagne suits whisky enthusiasts looking for a well-rounded, complex dram. It rewards those with some experience and an appreciation for character.

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 FruitToastedHoneyOld Wood

Only Normandin-Mercier Rare Cognac / 50 Year Old / Petite Champagne

Nutty

Only Tomintoul 1981 (cask 5985) - Vintage Single Cask

Vanilla

Explore more