Mortlach

Translation: word origin unclear, probably "Big green hill".
Region: Speyside

This operation trains.

The Mortlach Distillery has been around for a long time. And she has always enjoyed great popularity in the whiskey industry. As the oldest of the many distilleries in Dufftown, Mortlach played a key role in the history of Scottish malt whiskey. Many burners learned their craft here. A young man named William Grant was apprenticed to Mortlach. He must have taken good care. For the distillery, which was later founded by him in the neighborhood became the most famous and successful in the world: Glenfiddich.

A little history

The distillery was founded as early as 1823 by James Findlater, Donald Mackintosh and Alexander Gordon. This makes it the oldest distillery in Scotland's "whiskey capital" Dufftown, a rather small, tranquil spot in the heart of the Speyside region.
In the following decades, the distillery had many owners, including J & J Grant of Glen Grant.
Mortlach was sold to John Walker & Sons in 1923 and has been one of Johnnie Walker's major assets since then (alongside Cardhu and Talisker).
In 1963/64, the distillery was extensively renovated, most of today's buildings date back to this period.
In 2013, Diageo announced plans to build an additional production building on the site, complete with Mash Tun, Wash Backs and Still House. The capacity should be nearly doubled.

What do I actually have in the glass?

Mortlach is known as a very full, complex, powerful Speyside malt. The distillery traditionally relies on a high proportion of sherry casks. "The Beast of Dufftown" fascinates with spice, sweetness and some smoke.

3 reasons to love Mortlach

1) Because Dufftown's whiskey story started here.
2) Because this malt has everything a whiskey needs.
3) Because Mortlach plans the future despite a lot of past history.

The one drama for the lonely island

The recently released "Rare Old" with an unusual 43.4% is a powerhouse and a real wonder of flavor.

numbers and facts

Address: Dufftown, Banffshire AB55 4AQ
Founded: 1823 by James Findlater, Donald Mackintosh, Alexander Gordon
Status: active
Owner: Diageo
Capacity: about 3,000,000 liters
3 wash stills (total 325,000 l)
3 spirit stills (total 260,000 l)
Water: Dykehead and Catscraig in the Conval Hills
Visitor Center: -
Phone: +44 (0) 1340/822100
Website: -