Robert Burnett Old Tom Gin / Bot.1947 vs Tomintoul 1981 (cask 5985) - Vintage Single Cask

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

Robert Burnett Old Tom Gin / Bot.1947Tomintoul 1981 (cask 5985) - Vintage Single Cask
DistilleryRobert BurnettTomintoul
RegionSpeyside
CountryUnited KingdomScotland
TypeSingle Malt
ABV40%53.9%
AgeNAS31 yr
Price£175£223.7
Rating5.00/5

Robert Burnett Old Tom Gin / Bot.1947

Smoke72/100
Sweetness40/100
Beginner40/100
Value0/100

Tomintoul 1981 (cask 5985) - Vintage Single Cask

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

Robert Burnett Old Tom Gin / Bot.1947

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).

Robert Burnett Old Tom Gin / Bot.1947 is better value at £175 vs £224.

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

Robert Burnett Old Tom Gin / Bot.1947

Pros

  • +Intense, complex peat smoke character
  • +More affordable (£175 vs £223.7)
  • +Vibrant, fresh fruit character

Cons

  • Challenging for beginners — intense and polarising
  • 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 widely reviewed by the community
  • +Vibrant, fresh fruit character

Cons

  • High ABV (53.9%) — may need water
  • More expensive (£223.7 vs £175)
  • Lacks smoke character compared to the alternative

Who should buy Robert?

Robert Burnett Old Tom Gin / Bot.1947 is for peat enthusiasts and experienced whisky lovers who appreciate bold, smoky, medicinal character. If you enjoy Ardbeg or Laphroaig, this is your dram. Not recommended for 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 Robert Burnett Old Tom Gin / Bot.1947

SolventFresh FruitVegetativeMedicinalCitric

Only Tomintoul 1981 (cask 5985) - Vintage Single Cask

Old WoodHoneyVanillaDried FruitToasted

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