Mortlach
Founded as early as 1823 by James Findlater, Donald Mackintosh, and Alexander Gordon, Mortlach is the oldest distillery in Scotland's whisky capital, Dufftown, and trained generations of distillers – including a young William Grant, who later founded Glenfiddich, the world's best-known distillery.
Mortlach is known as "The Beast of Dufftown" – a nickname coined by whisky writer Dave Broom in 2012 for the bold, complex Speyside malt produced by an unusual distillation process known as "2.81 times distilled". From the Mortlach 12 Year Old to the more mature 16 Year Old, you will find the right bottle for every occasion in our selection.
Content: 0.7 Liter (€121.41 / 1 Liter)
Available, delivery time: 1-3 business days
Code: PFINGSTEN26
Content: 0.7 Liter (€102.84 / 1 Liter)
Available, delivery time: 3-6 business business days
Content: 0.7 Liter (€71.29 / 1 Liter)
Available, delivery time: 1-3 business days
Content: 0.7 Liter (€68.56 / 1 Liter)
Available, delivery time: 1-3 business days
Content: 0.7 Liter (€331.41 / 1 Liter)
Available, delivery time: 3-6 business business days
Content: 0.7 Liter (€59.99 / 1 Liter)
Available, delivery time: 3-6 business business days
Content: 0.7 Liter (€135.70 / 1 Liter)
Available, delivery time: 3-6 business business days
Content: 0.7 Liter (€95.70 / 1 Liter)
Available, delivery time: 3-6 business business days
Content: 0.7 Liter (€68.56 / 1 Liter)
Available, delivery time: 3-6 business business days
Content: 0.7 Liter (€3,488.56 / 1 Liter)
Available, delivery time: 3-6 business business days
Content: 0.7 Liter (€1,348.56 / 1 Liter)
Available, delivery time: 3-6 business business days
Content: 0.7 Liter (€1,087.13 / 1 Liter)
Available, delivery time: 3-6 business business days
Content: 0.7 Liter (€358.56 / 1 Liter)
Available, delivery time: 3-6 business business days
Content: 0.7 Liter (€429.99 / 1 Liter)
Available, delivery time: 3-6 business business days
Content: 0.7 Liter (€115.70 / 1 Liter)
Available, delivery time: 3-6 business business days
How did a training ground become "The Beast of Dufftown"?
Mortlach was founded in 1823 – Dufftown's first legal distillery, predating even such famous neighbours as The Glenlivet (1824) and The Macallan (1824). In 1853, engineer George Cowie joined the team under owner John Gordon; his son Alexander later developed the exceptionally intricate "2.81 times distilled" process still used today, giving Mortlach its distinctively bold, meaty character. In 1923, the distillery was sold to John Walker & Sons; since then, Mortlach has ranked alongside Cardhu and Talisker as one of the key components of the Johnnie Walker blend. Whisky writer Dave Broom coined the nickname "The Beast of Dufftown" in 2012 for the malt's intense, distinctive character.
How did Mortlach help launch Glenfiddich?
As Dufftown's oldest distillery, Mortlach trained numerous distillers over the decades – including a young William Grant, who learned the craft here before founding his own distillery next door: Glenfiddich, today the world's best-selling single malt brand.
Overview of the most popular bottlings
1. Mortlach 12 Year Old
The entry point into the bold house style.
Taste: Spicy and full-bodied with sherry depth and light smoke.
Serving suggestion: For anyone seeking an especially intense Speyside malt.
2. Mortlach 16 Year Old
The more mature variant, with even greater depth.
Taste: Dense and complex with dried fruit and spice.
Serving suggestion: For experienced tasters wanting to experience "The Beast" at full maturity.
Facts and figures
Address: Dufftown, Banffshire. Capacity: around 3 million litres a year, three wash stills and three spirit stills. Water source: Dykehead and Catscraig in the Conval Hills. Owner: Diageo.