Mortlach 13 Year Old (Special Release 2021) vs The Whistler 16 Year Old Irish Whiskey / Palo Cortado Cask

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

Mortlach 13 Year Old (Special Release 2021)The Whistler 16 Year Old Irish Whiskey / Palo Cortado Cask
DistilleryMortlachWhistler
RegionSpeyside
CountryScotlandUnited Kingdom
TypeSingle MaltIrish
ABV55.9%40%
Age13 yrNAS
Price£150£159
Rating5.00/5

Mortlach 13 Year Old (Special Release 2021)

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

The Whistler 16 Year Old Irish Whiskey / Palo Cortado Cask

Smoke0/100
Sweetness66/100
Beginner85/100
Value0/100

Mortlach 13 Year Old (Special Release 2021)

SmokySweetFruitySpicyWoodyFloral

The Whistler 16 Year Old Irish Whiskey / Palo Cortado Cask

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 £159.

For beginners: The Whistler 16 Year Old Irish Whiskey / Palo Cortado Cask is more approachable (85/100 beginner score).

Mortlach 13 Year Old (Special Release 2021)

Pros

  • +Better value for money
  • +Higher community rating (5.0/5)
  • +More affordable (£150 vs £159)
  • +More widely reviewed by the community

Cons

  • High ABV (55.9%) — may need water

The Whistler 16 Year Old Irish Whiskey / Palo Cortado Cask

Pros

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

Cons

  • More expensive (£159 vs £150)
  • Lower community rating (0.0 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 The?

The Whistler 16 Year Old Irish Whiskey / Palo Cortado 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.

Tasting notes

Both taste of

Vanilla

Only Mortlach 13 Year Old (Special Release 2021)

New WoodMalt ExtractToasted

Only The Whistler 16 Year Old Irish Whiskey / Palo Cortado Cask

SherriedNuttyOld WoodHoney

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