Mortlach 23 Year Old 1991 (cask 5887) - Mackillop's Choice vs Johnnie Walker Black Label 12 Year Old 100th Anniversary Edition

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

Mortlach 23 Year Old 1991 (cask 5887) - Mackillop's ChoiceJohnnie Walker Black Label 12 Year Old 100th Anniversary Edition
DistilleryMortlachJohnnie Walker
RegionSpeysideOther Scotch
CountryScotlandScotland
TypeSingle MaltBlended
ABV56.6%40%
Age23 yr12 yr
Price£208.33£150
Rating5.00/54.75/5

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

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

Johnnie Walker Black Label 12 Year Old 100th Anniversary Edition

Smoke64/100
Sweetness75/100
Beginner75/100
Value32/100

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

SmokySweetFruitySpicyWoodyFloral

Johnnie Walker Black Label 12 Year Old 100th Anniversary Edition

SmokySweetFruitySpicyWoodyFloral

Quick verdict

Mortlach 23 Year Old 1991 (cask 5887) - Mackillop's Choice is rated higher (5.00 vs 4.75).

Johnnie Walker Black Label 12 Year Old 100th Anniversary Edition is better value at £150 vs £208.

For beginners: Johnnie Walker Black Label 12 Year Old 100th Anniversary Edition is more approachable (75/100 beginner score).

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

Pros

  • +Higher community rating (5.0/5)
  • +Longer maturation (23 vs 12 years)
  • +Vibrant, fresh fruit character

Cons

  • High ABV (56.6%) — may need water
  • More expensive (£208.33 vs £150)
  • Lacks smoke character compared to the alternative

Johnnie Walker Black Label 12 Year Old 100th Anniversary Edition

Pros

  • +Balanced smoky character without being overwhelming
  • +Approachable and beginner-friendly sweetness
  • +Great entry point for new whisky drinkers
  • +Better value for money

Cons

  • Lower community rating (4.8 vs 5.0)

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.

Who should buy Johnnie?

Johnnie Walker Black Label 12 Year Old 100th Anniversary Edition is an ideal first whisky — sweet, approachable, and widely available. It's a great gift and a safe choice for anyone new to whisky or who prefers lighter, friendlier drams.

Tasting notes

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

SherriedChocolateToastedDried FruitOld Wood

Only Johnnie Walker Black Label 12 Year Old 100th Anniversary Edition

SmokeyMalt ExtractHoneyVanilla

Explore more