Mortlach 23 Year Old 1991 (cask 5887) - Mackillop's Choice vs Arran 14 Year Old Founder's Reserve

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

Mortlach 23 Year Old 1991 (cask 5887) - Mackillop's ChoiceArran 14 Year Old Founder's Reserve
DistilleryMortlachArran
RegionSpeysideIsland
CountryScotlandScotland
TypeSingle MaltSingle Malt
ABV56.6%43%
Age23 yr14 yr
Price£208.33£199
Rating5.00/5

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

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

Arran 14 Year Old Founder's Reserve

Smoke0/100
Sweetness66/100
Beginner85/100
Value0/100

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

SmokySweetFruitySpicyWoodyFloral

Arran 14 Year Old Founder's Reserve

SmokySweetFruitySpicyWoodyFloral

Quick verdict

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

Arran 14 Year Old Founder's Reserve is better value at £199 vs £208.

For beginners: Arran 14 Year Old Founder's Reserve is more approachable (85/100 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 14 years)
  • +More widely reviewed by the community

Cons

  • High ABV (56.6%) — may need water
  • More expensive (£208.33 vs £199)

Arran 14 Year Old Founder's Reserve

Pros

  • +Approachable and beginner-friendly sweetness
  • +Great entry point for new whisky drinkers
  • +More affordable (£199 vs £208.33)
  • +Vibrant, fresh fruit character

Cons

  • 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 14 Year Old Founder's Reserve 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 Arran 14 Year Old Founder's Reserve

Fresh FruitVanillaHoneyCitricMalt Extract

Explore more