Hazelburn 8 Year Old First Edition (Cask Label) vs Mortlach 23 Year Old 1991 (cask 5887) - Mackillop's Choice

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

Hazelburn 8 Year Old First Edition (Cask Label)Mortlach 23 Year Old 1991 (cask 5887) - Mackillop's Choice
DistillerySpringbankMortlach
RegionCampbeltownSpeyside
CountryScotlandScotland
TypeSingle MaltSingle Malt
ABV46%56.6%
Age8 yr23 yr
Price£299£208.33
Rating5.00/5

Hazelburn 8 Year Old First Edition (Cask Label)

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

Hazelburn 8 Year Old First Edition (Cask Label)

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).

Mortlach 23 Year Old 1991 (cask 5887) - Mackillop's Choice is better value at £208 vs £299.

For beginners: Hazelburn 8 Year Old First Edition (Cask Label) is more approachable (75/100 beginner score).

Hazelburn 8 Year Old First Edition (Cask Label)

Pros

  • +Approachable and beginner-friendly sweetness
  • +Great entry point for new whisky drinkers

Cons

  • More expensive (£299 vs £208.33)
  • 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)
  • +More affordable (£208.33 vs £299)
  • +Longer maturation (23 vs 8 years)

Cons

  • High ABV (56.6%) — may need water

Who should buy Hazelburn?

Hazelburn 8 Year Old First Edition (Cask Label) 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

Only Hazelburn 8 Year Old First Edition (Cask Label)

Malt ExtractHoneyVanillaFresh Fruit

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

SherriedChocolateToastedDried FruitOld Wood

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