Imperial 30 Year Old 1989 - North Star Spirits vs Mortlach 26 Year Old 1987 - Single Cask (Master of Malt)

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

Imperial 30 Year Old 1989 - North Star SpiritsMortlach 26 Year Old 1987 - Single Cask (Master of Malt)
DistilleryImperialMortlach
RegionSpeysideSpeyside
CountryScotlandScotland
TypeSingle MaltSingle Malt
ABV52.8%57%
Age30 yr26 yr
Price£325£383.95
Rating5.00/5

Imperial 30 Year Old 1989 - North Star Spirits

Smoke0/100
Sweetness54/100
Beginner45/100
Value0/100

Mortlach 26 Year Old 1987 - Single Cask (Master of Malt)

Smoke0/100
Sweetness64/100
Beginner35/100
Value13/100

Imperial 30 Year Old 1989 - North Star Spirits

SmokySweetFruitySpicyWoodyFloral

Mortlach 26 Year Old 1987 - Single Cask (Master of Malt)

SmokySweetFruitySpicyWoodyFloral

Quick verdict

Mortlach 26 Year Old 1987 - Single Cask (Master of Malt) is rated higher (5.00 vs 0.00).

Imperial 30 Year Old 1989 - North Star Spirits is better value at £325 vs £384.

For beginners: Imperial 30 Year Old 1989 - North Star Spirits is more approachable (45/100 beginner score).

Imperial 30 Year Old 1989 - North Star Spirits

Pros

  • +More affordable (£325 vs £383.95)
  • +Longer maturation (30 vs 26 years)
  • +Rich oak and wood spice complexity

Cons

  • High ABV (52.8%) — may need water
  • Lower community rating (0.0 vs 5.0)

Mortlach 26 Year Old 1987 - Single Cask (Master of Malt)

Pros

  • +Better value for money
  • +Higher community rating (5.0/5)
  • +More widely reviewed by the community
  • +Rich oak and wood spice complexity

Cons

  • High ABV (57%) — may need water
  • More expensive (£383.95 vs £325)

Who should buy Imperial?

Imperial 30 Year Old 1989 - North Star Spirits 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 Mortlach?

Mortlach 26 Year Old 1987 - Single Cask (Master of Malt) 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

ToastedHoneyOld WoodMalt Extract

Only Imperial 30 Year Old 1989 - North Star Spirits

Dried Fruit

Only Mortlach 26 Year Old 1987 - Single Cask (Master of Malt)

Vanilla

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