Linkwood 21 Year Old 1997 (cask 12574) - Old Particular (Douglas Laing) vs Mortlach 13 Year Old (Special Release 2021)

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

Linkwood 21 Year Old 1997 (cask 12574) - Old Particular (Douglas Laing)Mortlach 13 Year Old (Special Release 2021)
DistilleryLinkwoodMortlach
RegionSpeysideSpeyside
CountryScotlandScotland
TypeSingle MaltSingle Malt
ABV51.5%55.9%
Age21 yr13 yr
Price£119.76£150
Rating5.00/5

Linkwood 21 Year Old 1997 (cask 12574) - Old Particular (Douglas Laing)

Smoke0/100
Sweetness64/100
Beginner45/100
Value0/100

Mortlach 13 Year Old (Special Release 2021)

Smoke0/100
Sweetness57/100
Beginner35/100
Value33/100

Linkwood 21 Year Old 1997 (cask 12574) - Old Particular (Douglas Laing)

SmokySweetFruitySpicyWoodyFloral

Mortlach 13 Year Old (Special Release 2021)

SmokySweetFruitySpicyWoodyFloral

Quick verdict

Mortlach 13 Year Old (Special Release 2021) is rated higher (5.00 vs 0.00).

Linkwood 21 Year Old 1997 (cask 12574) - Old Particular (Douglas Laing) is better value at £120 vs £150.

For beginners: Linkwood 21 Year Old 1997 (cask 12574) - Old Particular (Douglas Laing) is more approachable (45/100 beginner score).

Linkwood 21 Year Old 1997 (cask 12574) - Old Particular (Douglas Laing)

Pros

  • +More affordable (£119.76 vs £150)
  • +Longer maturation (21 vs 13 years)
  • +Rich oak and wood spice complexity

Cons

  • High ABV (51.5%) — may need water
  • Lower community rating (0.0 vs 5.0)

Mortlach 13 Year Old (Special Release 2021)

Pros

  • +Better value for money
  • +Higher community rating (5.0/5)
  • +More widely reviewed by the community
  • +Rich oak and wood spice complexity

Cons

  • High ABV (55.9%) — may need water
  • More expensive (£150 vs £119.76)

Who should buy Linkwood?

Linkwood 21 Year Old 1997 (cask 12574) - Old Particular (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 13 Year Old (Special Release 2021) 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

Malt ExtractVanillaToasted

Only Linkwood 21 Year Old 1997 (cask 12574) - Old Particular (Douglas Laing)

HoneyOld Wood

Only Mortlach 13 Year Old (Special Release 2021)

New Wood

Explore more