Mortlach 23 Year Old 1991 (cask 5887) - Mackillop's Choice vs Arran 19 Year Old 1996 - Single Cask (Master of Malt)

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

Mortlach 23 Year Old 1991 (cask 5887) - Mackillop's ChoiceArran 19 Year Old 1996 - Single Cask (Master of Malt)
DistilleryMortlachArran
RegionSpeysideIsland
CountryScotlandScotland
TypeSingle MaltSingle Malt
ABV56.6%55.3%
Age23 yr19 yr
Price£208.33£199.95
Rating5.00/5

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

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

Arran 19 Year Old 1996 - Single Cask (Master of Malt)

Smoke0/100
Sweetness66/100
Beginner50/100
Value0/100

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

SmokySweetFruitySpicyWoodyFloral

Arran 19 Year Old 1996 - Single Cask (Master of Malt)

SmokySweetFruitySpicyWoodyFloral

Quick verdict

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

Arran 19 Year Old 1996 - Single Cask (Master of Malt) is better value at £200 vs £208.

For beginners: Arran 19 Year Old 1996 - Single Cask (Master of Malt) is more approachable (50/100 beginner score).

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

Pros

  • +Better value for money
  • +Higher community rating (5.0/5)
  • +Longer maturation (23 vs 19 years)
  • +More widely reviewed by the community

Cons

  • High ABV (56.6%) — may need water
  • More expensive (£208.33 vs £199.95)

Arran 19 Year Old 1996 - Single Cask (Master of Malt)

Pros

  • +Approachable and beginner-friendly sweetness
  • +More affordable (£199.95 vs £208.33)

Cons

  • High ABV (55.3%) — may need water
  • Lower community rating (0.0 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 Arran?

Arran 19 Year Old 1996 - Single Cask (Master of Malt) 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.

Tasting notes

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

SherriedChocolateToastedDried FruitOld Wood

Only Arran 19 Year Old 1996 - Single Cask (Master of Malt)

Malt ExtractVanillaHoneyFresh Fruit

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