Arran 18 Year Old Founder's Reserve vs Mortlach 13 Year Old (Special Release 2021)

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

Arran 18 Year Old Founder's ReserveMortlach 13 Year Old (Special Release 2021)
DistilleryArranMortlach
RegionIslandSpeyside
CountryScotlandScotland
TypeSingle MaltSingle Malt
ABV43%55.9%
Age18 yr13 yr
Price£199£150
Rating5.00/5

Arran 18 Year Old Founder's Reserve

Smoke0/100
Sweetness59/100
Beginner70/100
Value0/100

Mortlach 13 Year Old (Special Release 2021)

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

Arran 18 Year Old Founder's Reserve

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).

Mortlach 13 Year Old (Special Release 2021) is better value at £150 vs £199.

For beginners: Arran 18 Year Old Founder's Reserve is more approachable (70/100 beginner score).

Arran 18 Year Old Founder's Reserve

Pros

  • +Great entry point for new whisky drinkers
  • +Longer maturation (18 vs 13 years)

Cons

  • More expensive (£199 vs £150)
  • 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 affordable (£150 vs £199)
  • +More widely reviewed by the community

Cons

  • High ABV (55.9%) — may need water

Who should buy Arran?

Arran 18 Year Old Founder's Reserve suits whisky enthusiasts looking for a well-rounded, complex dram. It rewards those with some experience and an appreciation for Island character.

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 Arran 18 Year Old Founder's Reserve

HoneyFresh Fruit

Only Mortlach 13 Year Old (Special Release 2021)

New Wood

Explore more