Mortlach 23 Year Old 1991 (cask 5887) - Mackillop's Choice vs Scapa 16 Year Old 2002 - Distillery Reserve Collection

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

Mortlach 23 Year Old 1991 (cask 5887) - Mackillop's ChoiceScapa 16 Year Old 2002 - Distillery Reserve Collection
DistilleryMortlachScapa
RegionSpeysideIsland
CountryScotlandScotland
TypeSingle MaltSingle Malt
ABV56.6%50.9%
Age23 yr16 yr
Price£208.33£225
Rating5.00/5

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

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

Scapa 16 Year Old 2002 - Distillery Reserve Collection

Smoke0/100
Sweetness66/100
Beginner60/100
Value0/100

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

SmokySweetFruitySpicyWoodyFloral

Scapa 16 Year Old 2002 - Distillery Reserve Collection

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 £225.

For beginners: Scapa 16 Year Old 2002 - Distillery Reserve Collection is more approachable (60/100 beginner score).

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 £225)
  • +Longer maturation (23 vs 16 years)

Cons

  • High ABV (56.6%) — may need water

Scapa 16 Year Old 2002 - Distillery Reserve Collection

Pros

  • +Approachable and beginner-friendly sweetness

Cons

  • High ABV (50.9%) — may need water
  • More expensive (£225 vs £208.33)
  • Lower community rating (0.0 vs 5.0)

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.

Who should buy Scapa?

Scapa 16 Year Old 2002 - Distillery Reserve Collection suits those who enjoy sweet, honeyed, or fruity whiskies. It's accessible for beginners and crowd-pleasing enough for gifts. Fans of approachable Speyside or Irish whiskey will love it.

Tasting notes

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

SherriedChocolateToastedDried FruitOld Wood

Only Scapa 16 Year Old 2002 - Distillery Reserve Collection

Malt ExtractFresh FruitHoneyVanilla

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