Glen Elgin 20 Year Old 1990 (cask 7869) - First Cask vs Mortlach 23 Year Old 1991 (cask 5887) - Mackillop's Choice

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

Glen Elgin 20 Year Old 1990 (cask 7869) - First CaskMortlach 23 Year Old 1991 (cask 5887) - Mackillop's Choice
DistilleryGlen ElginMortlach
RegionSpeysideSpeyside
CountryScotlandScotland
TypeSingle MaltSingle Malt
ABV46%56.6%
Age20 yr23 yr
Price£199£208.33
Rating5.00/5

Glen Elgin 20 Year Old 1990 (cask 7869) - First Cask

Smoke0/100
Sweetness66/100
Beginner75/100
Value0/100

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

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

Glen Elgin 20 Year Old 1990 (cask 7869) - First Cask

SmokySweetFruitySpicyWoodyFloral

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

SmokySweetFruitySpicyWoodyFloral

Quick verdict

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

Glen Elgin 20 Year Old 1990 (cask 7869) - First Cask is better value at £199 vs £208.

For beginners: Glen Elgin 20 Year Old 1990 (cask 7869) - First Cask is more approachable (75/100 beginner score).

Glen Elgin 20 Year Old 1990 (cask 7869) - First Cask

Pros

  • +Approachable and beginner-friendly sweetness
  • +Great entry point for new whisky drinkers
  • +More affordable (£199 vs £208.33)
  • +Rich oak and wood spice complexity

Cons

  • Lower community rating (0.0 vs 5.0)

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 20 years)
  • +More widely reviewed by the community

Cons

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

Who should buy Glen?

Glen Elgin 20 Year Old 1990 (cask 7869) - First Cask 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.

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.

Tasting notes

Both taste of

Old Wood

Only Glen Elgin 20 Year Old 1990 (cask 7869) - First Cask

HoneyMalt ExtractFresh FruitVanilla

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

SherriedChocolateToastedDried Fruit

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