Mortlach

Mortlach was the first licensed distillery in Dufftown, founded in 1823. It later passed through the hands of the Cowie family before becoming part of what is now Diageo. For a long time it was mostly a blending malt, prized by blenders for its weight.

The distillery runs six stills of different shapes and sizes in a complex arrangement, with some spirit distilled more than twice, and cools it in worm tubs. The result is a dense, meaty, often sulphury spirit that suits sherry casks well. Fans call this partial triple distillation the 2.81 process.

Diageo raised Mortlach's profile with its own range in the 2010s. Today buyers meet the 12 years The Wee Witchie, a 14 Year Old, the 18 Year Old, Cowie's Blue Seal and a 25 Year Old, with occasional Special Releases.

Mortlach is also widely bottled by independents. Gordon & MacPhail has bottled it for decades, including a 15 Year Old with distillery labels and rare casks in its Private Collection. Douglas Laing (Old Particular), Signatory Vintage, Hunter Laing (First Editions), Duncan Taylor, Adelphi, That Boutique-y Whisky Company and Master of Malt release single casks and small batches.