Mortlach 23 Year Old 1989 (cask 5055) - Dimensions (Duncan Taylor) vs Kininvie 17 Year Old 1996 (Batch 1)

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

Mortlach 23 Year Old 1989 (cask 5055) - Dimensions (Duncan Taylor)Kininvie 17 Year Old 1996 (Batch 1)
DistilleryMortlachKininvie
RegionSpeysideSpeyside
CountryScotlandScotland
TypeSingle MaltSingle Malt
ABV55.8%42.6%
Age23 yr17 yr
Price£134.71£120
Rating5.00/5

Mortlach 23 Year Old 1989 (cask 5055) - Dimensions (Duncan Taylor)

Smoke0/100
Sweetness43/100
Beginner35/100
Value0/100

Kininvie 17 Year Old 1996 (Batch 1)

Smoke0/100
Sweetness66/100
Beginner85/100
Value42/100

Mortlach 23 Year Old 1989 (cask 5055) - Dimensions (Duncan Taylor)

SmokySweetFruitySpicyWoodyFloral

Kininvie 17 Year Old 1996 (Batch 1)

SmokySweetFruitySpicyWoodyFloral

Quick verdict

Kininvie 17 Year Old 1996 (Batch 1) is rated higher (5.00 vs 0.00).

Kininvie 17 Year Old 1996 (Batch 1) is better value at £120 vs £135.

For beginners: Kininvie 17 Year Old 1996 (Batch 1) is more approachable (85/100 beginner score).

Mortlach 23 Year Old 1989 (cask 5055) - Dimensions (Duncan Taylor)

Pros

  • +Longer maturation (23 vs 17 years)
  • +Vibrant, fresh fruit character

Cons

  • High ABV (55.8%) — may need water
  • More expensive (£134.71 vs £120)
  • Lower community rating (0.0 vs 5.0)

Kininvie 17 Year Old 1996 (Batch 1)

Pros

  • +Approachable and beginner-friendly sweetness
  • +Great entry point for new whisky drinkers
  • +Better value for money
  • +Higher community rating (5.0/5)

Cons

  • Niche style — may not suit all palates

Who should buy Mortlach?

Mortlach 23 Year Old 1989 (cask 5055) - Dimensions (Duncan Taylor) 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 Kininvie?

Kininvie 17 Year Old 1996 (Batch 1) 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 1989 (cask 5055) - Dimensions (Duncan Taylor)

Old WoodSherriedDried FruitToastedNutty

Only Kininvie 17 Year Old 1996 (Batch 1)

HoneyFresh FruitVanillaMalt ExtractCitric

Explore more