Mortlach 26 Year Old 1987 - Single Cask (Master of Malt) vs Tamnavulin 40 Year Old 1968 (cask 3659) - Celebration of the Cask (Càrn Mòr)

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

Mortlach 26 Year Old 1987 - Single Cask (Master of Malt)Tamnavulin 40 Year Old 1968 (cask 3659) - Celebration of the Cask (Càrn Mòr)
DistilleryMortlachTamnavulin
RegionSpeysideSpeyside
CountryScotlandScotland
TypeSingle MaltSingle Malt
ABV57%40.6%
Age26 yr40 yr
Price£383.95£284.14
Rating5.00/5

Mortlach 26 Year Old 1987 - Single Cask (Master of Malt)

Smoke0/100
Sweetness64/100
Beginner35/100
Value13/100

Tamnavulin 40 Year Old 1968 (cask 3659) - Celebration of the Cask (Càrn Mòr)

Smoke0/100
Sweetness71/100
Beginner85/100
Value0/100

Mortlach 26 Year Old 1987 - Single Cask (Master of Malt)

SmokySweetFruitySpicyWoodyFloral

Tamnavulin 40 Year Old 1968 (cask 3659) - Celebration of the Cask (Càrn Mòr)

SmokySweetFruitySpicyWoodyFloral

Quick verdict

Mortlach 26 Year Old 1987 - Single Cask (Master of Malt) is rated higher (5.00 vs 0.00).

Tamnavulin 40 Year Old 1968 (cask 3659) - Celebration of the Cask (Càrn Mòr) is better value at £284 vs £384.

For beginners: Tamnavulin 40 Year Old 1968 (cask 3659) - Celebration of the Cask (Càrn Mòr) is more approachable (85/100 beginner score).

Mortlach 26 Year Old 1987 - Single Cask (Master of Malt)

Pros

  • +Better value for money
  • +Higher community rating (5.0/5)
  • +More widely reviewed by the community
  • +Rich oak and wood spice complexity

Cons

  • High ABV (57%) — may need water
  • More expensive (£383.95 vs £284.14)

Tamnavulin 40 Year Old 1968 (cask 3659) - Celebration of the Cask (Càrn Mòr)

Pros

  • +Approachable and beginner-friendly sweetness
  • +Great entry point for new whisky drinkers
  • +More affordable (£284.14 vs £383.95)
  • +Longer maturation (40 vs 26 years)

Cons

  • Lower community rating (0.0 vs 5.0)

Who should buy Mortlach?

Mortlach 26 Year Old 1987 - Single Cask (Master of Malt) 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 Tamnavulin?

Tamnavulin 40 Year Old 1968 (cask 3659) - Celebration of the Cask (Càrn Mòr) 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

Old WoodHoneyVanilla

Only Mortlach 26 Year Old 1987 - Single Cask (Master of Malt)

Malt ExtractToasted

Only Tamnavulin 40 Year Old 1968 (cask 3659) - Celebration of the Cask (Càrn Mòr)

SherriedDried Fruit

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