Mortlach 13 Year Old (Special Release 2021) vs Octomore 09.3 5 Year Old - Dialogos

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

Mortlach 13 Year Old (Special Release 2021)Octomore 09.3 5 Year Old - Dialogos
DistilleryMortlachBruichladdich
RegionSpeysideIslay
CountryScotlandScotland
TypeSingle MaltSingle Malt
ABV55.9%62.9%
Age13 yr5 yr
Price£150£193.95
Rating5.00/54.67/5

Mortlach 13 Year Old (Special Release 2021)

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

Octomore 09.3 5 Year Old - Dialogos

Smoke64/100
Sweetness30/100
Beginner20/100
Value24/100

Mortlach 13 Year Old (Special Release 2021)

SmokySweetFruitySpicyWoodyFloral

Octomore 09.3 5 Year Old - Dialogos

SmokySweetFruitySpicyWoodyFloral

Quick verdict

Mortlach 13 Year Old (Special Release 2021) is rated higher (5.00 vs 4.67).

Mortlach 13 Year Old (Special Release 2021) is better value at £150 vs £194.

For beginners: Mortlach 13 Year Old (Special Release 2021) is more approachable (35/100 beginner score).

Mortlach 13 Year Old (Special Release 2021)

Pros

  • +Better value for money
  • +Higher community rating (5.0/5)
  • +More affordable (£150 vs £193.95)
  • +Longer maturation (13 vs 5 years)

Cons

  • High ABV (55.9%) — may need water
  • Lacks smoke character compared to the alternative

Octomore 09.3 5 Year Old - Dialogos

Pros

  • +Balanced smoky character without being overwhelming

Cons

  • High ABV (62.9%) — may need water
  • More expensive (£193.95 vs £150)
  • Lower community rating (4.7 vs 5.0)

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.

Who should buy Octomore?

Octomore 09.3 5 Year Old - Dialogos 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

New WoodToasted

Only Mortlach 13 Year Old (Special Release 2021)

VanillaMalt Extract

Only Octomore 09.3 5 Year Old - Dialogos

SmokeyOily

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