Carsebridge 42 Year Old 1973 (cask 11848) - The Sovereign (Hunter Laing) vs Mortlach 23 Year Old 1991 (cask 5887) - Mackillop's Choice

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

Carsebridge 42 Year Old 1973 (cask 11848) - The Sovereign (Hunter Laing)Mortlach 23 Year Old 1991 (cask 5887) - Mackillop's Choice
DistilleryCarsebridgeMortlach
RegionLowlandSpeyside
CountryScotlandScotland
TypeGrainSingle Malt
ABV48.9%56.6%
Age42 yr23 yr
Price£235.06£208.33
Rating5.00/5

Carsebridge 42 Year Old 1973 (cask 11848) - The Sovereign (Hunter Laing)

Smoke0/100
Sweetness68/100
Beginner70/100
Value0/100

Mortlach 23 Year Old 1991 (cask 5887) - Mackillop's Choice

Smoke0/100
Sweetness53/100
Beginner35/100
Value24/100

Carsebridge 42 Year Old 1973 (cask 11848) - The Sovereign (Hunter Laing)

SmokySweetFruitySpicyWoodyFloral

Mortlach 23 Year Old 1991 (cask 5887) - Mackillop's Choice

SmokySweetFruitySpicyWoodyFloral

Quick verdict

Mortlach 23 Year Old 1991 (cask 5887) - Mackillop's Choice is rated higher (5.00 vs 0.00).

Mortlach 23 Year Old 1991 (cask 5887) - Mackillop's Choice is better value at £208 vs £235.

For beginners: Carsebridge 42 Year Old 1973 (cask 11848) - The Sovereign (Hunter Laing) is more approachable (70/100 beginner score).

Carsebridge 42 Year Old 1973 (cask 11848) - The Sovereign (Hunter Laing)

Pros

  • +Approachable and beginner-friendly sweetness
  • +Great entry point for new whisky drinkers
  • +Longer maturation (42 vs 23 years)
  • +Rich oak and wood spice complexity

Cons

  • More expensive (£235.06 vs £208.33)
  • Lower community rating (0.0 vs 5.0)

Mortlach 23 Year Old 1991 (cask 5887) - Mackillop's Choice

Pros

  • +Better value for money
  • +Higher community rating (5.0/5)
  • +More affordable (£208.33 vs £235.06)
  • +More widely reviewed by the community

Cons

  • High ABV (56.6%) — may need water

Who should buy Carsebridge?

Carsebridge 42 Year Old 1973 (cask 11848) - The Sovereign (Hunter 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 Mortlach?

Mortlach 23 Year Old 1991 (cask 5887) - Mackillop's Choice 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 Wood

Only Carsebridge 42 Year Old 1973 (cask 11848) - The Sovereign (Hunter Laing)

VanillaHoneyNutty

Only Mortlach 23 Year Old 1991 (cask 5887) - Mackillop's Choice

SherriedChocolateToastedDried Fruit

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