North British 50 Year Old 1962 (cask 9783) - Directors' Cut (Douglas Laing) vs Mortlach 26 Year Old 1987 - Single Cask (Master of Malt)

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

North British 50 Year Old 1962 (cask 9783) - Directors' Cut (Douglas Laing)Mortlach 26 Year Old 1987 - Single Cask (Master of Malt)
DistilleryNorth BritishMortlach
RegionLowlandSpeyside
CountryScotlandScotland
TypeGrainSingle Malt
ABV53.3%57%
Age50 yr26 yr
Price£434.04£383.95
Rating3.50/55.00/5

North British 50 Year Old 1962 (cask 9783) - Directors' Cut (Douglas Laing)

Smoke0/100
Sweetness47/100
Beginner45/100
Value8/100

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

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

North British 50 Year Old 1962 (cask 9783) - Directors' Cut (Douglas Laing)

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 3.50).

Mortlach 26 Year Old 1987 - Single Cask (Master of Malt) is better value at £384 vs £434.

For beginners: North British 50 Year Old 1962 (cask 9783) - Directors' Cut (Douglas Laing) is more approachable (45/100 beginner score).

North British 50 Year Old 1962 (cask 9783) - Directors' Cut (Douglas Laing)

Pros

  • +Longer maturation (50 vs 26 years)
  • +Vibrant, fresh fruit character

Cons

  • High ABV (53.3%) — may need water
  • More expensive (£434.04 vs £383.95)
  • Lower community rating (3.5 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 affordable (£383.95 vs £434.04)
  • +Rich oak and wood spice complexity

Cons

  • High ABV (57%) — may need water

Who should buy North?

North British 50 Year Old 1962 (cask 9783) - Directors' Cut (Douglas Laing) 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

Old WoodToasted

Only North British 50 Year Old 1962 (cask 9783) - Directors' Cut (Douglas Laing)

SherriedDried FruitLeathery

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

HoneyVanillaMalt Extract

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