Mortlach parish church dufftown 2020 all you need to. It was the only distillery in dufftown until glenfiddich was founded in 1887. The distillery was the first to be licensed within dufftown, being founded by james findlater. The beast of dufftown, as it came to be known, was. Mortlach distillery is a distiller of scotch whisky in dufftown, moray, scotland. Mortlach was the only distillery in dufftown for over 60 years. It remained as the only distillery in dufftown until glenfiddich was founded in 1887 by william grant. Dufftowns first distillery, and though it had a chequered early history, changing ownership several times, converted to a brewery for a while, and having its equipment ripped out at one point, it spawned the towns second distillery william grant had worked at mortlach for some 20 years before deciding to set out on his own at glenfiddich. Founded shortly after the excise tax reforms of 1823 on the site of an even older illicit distillery, mortlach was also the first legal distillery in dufftown, the heart of speyside. Mortlach distillery is a producer of scotch whisky located in the whisky hot spot dufftown. This book is a collection of labels and bottles from distillers.
This was where william grant of glenfiddich fame learned his trade. Mortlach heritage founded in 1823 during an age of great achievement, mortlach was the first legal distillery in dufftown, the heart of speyside, and to this day has been a 190 year secret. This church has its own interesting history but more importantly for me it sits close nearby to the home of the best speyside malt whisky not the adjacent dufftown distillery which is very nice. Mortlach distillery history the distillery was licensed in 1823 to james findlater and was the only distillery in dufftown until 1887. The distillery has always been known for its meaty, savoury style but it can really go in different directions when coupled to certain cask types. The mortlach 12 year old is picking up, for the first time since you were a teenager, a book that you had read and reread and rereread, then put asideyou find that the prose was written by. Dufftown sits in what was the parish of mortlach, an episcopal see and seat of beoan of mortlach, its first bishop as of 1012 ad. In 2014, diageo gave its storied mortlach distillery a big boost, relaunching its whiskies with three new expressions a nas release, an 18 year old, and a 25 year old, all beautiful monsters worth of mortlachs moniker, the beast of dufftown.
Mortlach distillery news newspapers books scholar jstor. The mortlach distillery lies in speysides spiritual heartland, dufftown, and holds the honour of being the first legal distillery to be built there. Mortlach was the name of the original village which sprang up around the abbey of the name, founded by saint moluag in the 7th century. Mortlach rare old single malt scotch whisky caskers. The mortlach 12 year old is picking up, for the first time since you were a teenager, a book that you had read and reread and rereread, then put asideyou find that the prose was written by a true stylist, that there were layers of meaning that you didnt notice nor would have understood, and that revisiting the plot, with all the. Feb 01, 2018 the first release was a 70yearold expression from the mortlach distillery, from a cask filled on october 15, 1938. The distillery was also the first legal distillery in the town, which is quite a distinction, especially when we consider the impressive amount of illicit activity that was occurring around the site at that time. The distillery doesnt have a visitors centre, however, it is possible to book a private tour of the facility. The first legal distillery in dufftown and one of the oldest in scotland. Mortlach has a most unusal distilling process which produces a. Founded by james findlater in 1823 when the excise act of 1823 was passed and dramatically reduced the taxes levied on the sale of whisky, mortlach was the first. The book at the bottom left gives the readers ideas they may need to complete the look of their own finished product. Established in 1823 mortlach was the first legal distillery in dufftown and it has continued.
The beast of dufftown, as it came to be known, was always a complex whisky and favored for use in blending. Signatory, as an independent bottler, is able to source a few casks from distilleries throughout scotland, bottle them under the signatory label, and then offer to the market these single malts that are otherwise found only in blends. Glenfiddich founder william grant, worked at mortlach distillery for 20 years previous to this. You will first hear the history of the distillery and how we arrived at this fantastic first dram in the malt whisky capital from as long back as 1823. Mortlach 19 year old 1997 single cask master of malt. Mortlach was the first legally licensed producer in what would come to be known as the, whisky capital of the world. The result is a success, combining the best of both of these worlds while still showing off the meaty mortlach spirit. The honour of being the first distillery in dufftown, at the heart of speyside in highland scotland, goes to the mortlach distillery. Mortlach distillery was founded in 1823 by james findlater, together with his friends alexander gordon and james macintosh. Our generations range showcases the longest matured scotch whisky ever to be bottled. Mortlach parish church dufftown 2020 all you need to know. Highland spirit bed and breakfast 4star gold speyside. Situated in the heart of the speyside region of scotland, dufftown is known the whisky capital of the world.
Mortlach 12 year old the wee witchie scotch whisky. It was licensed practically before the ink on the 1823 excise act was dry and. The mortlach distillery was established in 1823 and it had the distinction of being the first legal distillery in dufftown. The whisky has traditionally been called the beast of dufftown because of its bold. Mortlach continues to play an important role in some of the worlds finest blends and limited releases are made of its single malt, as a 16 year old. It was licensed practically before the ink on the 1823 excise act was dry and the distillery built around a well that had been previously well drawnupon for illicit production. Mortlach old and rare mortlach rare old is part of a new range of single malts from the speyside distillery of mortlach, and is one of the more anticipated whisky releases in recent memory. Learn all about the original settlement of mortlach, the history of the distillery, the old temperance hotel of dufftown and much more. It was founded in 1823 the year of the excise act by james findlater and, a year later, donald macintosh and alexander gordon joined him in ownership. Mortlach rare old is part of a new range of single malts from the speyside distillery of mortlach, and is one of the more anticipated whisky releases in recent memory. Georges son alexander returns from hong kong to speyside, assuming control of the distillery and heralding a new chapter in the story of mortlach. Donald macintosh and alexander gordon become partowners. Known locally as the beast of dufftown, mortlach distillery produces a famously rich spirit often described as meaty and smelling a bit like a roasting tin.
See more of mortlach history and whisky walk on facebook. Get a taste of how the whisky you love today came to be, with this brief mortlach timeline. Mortlach rare old exhibits the cleverness and craft that went into it when set alongside market competitors like macallans fine oak series, or other good, mainstream malts. It was built on land leased from the earl of macduff and findlater was joined in 1824 by donald macintosh and alexander gordon.
Alongside other legal distilleries founded in the wake of the excise act, mortlach is officially founded on the site of an older illicit distillery becoming the first legal distillery in dufftown, now one of the epicentres of speyside whisky distilling. But this mortlachs real competition, in my eyes, is other mortlach, now limited to a forest of independent bottlings, since the flora and fauna edition is fading away. Modern dufftown is home to a several magnificent castles, and hosts a highlands games annually, making it a destination for tourists to the region. Dufftowns first distillery, and though it had a chequered early history, changing ownership several times, converted to a brewery for a while, and having its equipment ripped out at one point, it.
The first release was a 70yearold expression from the mortlach distillery, from a cask filled on october 15, 1938. There is creativity involved when designing these things and this book. It was the first licensed distillery in dufftown taking its name from the abbey, and village that developed around it. Signatory, as an independent bottler, is able to source a few casks from distilleries throughout scotland, bottle them under the signatory label, and then offer to the. Enjoy a welcoming dram of the new release mortlach wee witchie 12 year old. Mortlach this single cask, bottled under hunter laings first editions label, provides an interesting opportunity to taste it at a relatively young age. Mortlach, a parish in banffshire, the main settlement of which is dufftown. Nov 25, 2014 the mortlach distillery was established in 1823 and it had the distinction of being the first legal distillery in dufftown. An undisputed star of speyside, this is a distillery which has previously shunned the limelight, being a highly coveted cult status dram, thanks to its bold flavour profile and maturation within predominantly european oak sherry casks. The easy and relaxing walk is led by alistair a qualified walking guide and whisky buff. Walk through over 125 years of history, where time hasnt affected tradition. Glenfiddich was founded in 1886, by william grant, after he quit. This church has its own interesting history but more importantly for me it sits close nearby to the home of the best speyside malt whisky not the adjacent dufftown distillery which is very nice enough, but more importantly it is very close to mortlach distillery, my personal. Mortlach distillery, scotch whisky distiller in dufftown.
History of mortlach, in moray and banffshire map and. Founded in 1823, it opened its doors over four decades before its famous dufftown neighbour glenfiddich. Mortlach single malt scotch whisky the whisky shop. Mortlach was the first distillery to be built at dufftown and, until glenfiddich got going in 1887, it was the only one. In 1887, john bartholomews gazetteer of the british isles described mortlach like this. The distillery was also the first legal distillery in the town, which is quite a distinction, especially when we consider the. It remained the only legal distillery there for over 60 years. The mortlach distillery is located in the historic burgh of dufftown. Mortlach whisky buy mortlach whiskies online master of malt. With the building of dufftown in 1817 the old name fell in abeyance apart from the distillery. This contrasts with the more subtle apple and pear characters associated with speyside single malts. Mortlach classic scottish distillery regains old glory. The entry point of the mortlach range, combining both exbourbon and exsherrymatured whisky to balance the distillerys traditionally weighty, dried fruit character against fresh fruit and vanilla notes.
You will first hear the history of mortlach distillery, established 1823, the first legal distillery in dufftown. The beast of dufftown, well known for its robust spirit and ability to stand up to long maturation, especially in sherry casks. Learn all the facts and trivia about mortlach distillery, their products and 19. The mortlach distillery is one of the oldest scotch whisky distilleries in scotland. Mortlach 12 year old 2002 vintage speyside single malt scotch whiskey. Mortlach distillery is still owned by diageo, and its large capacity 2. The whisky has traditionally been called the beast of dufftown because of its bold, uncompromising character. People and places dont just shape a single malt scotch whiskys flavour. An illegal distillery was previously located at the same site. See where our rarest whiskies can spend up to five decades. The village, which produces more malt whisky than any other town in scotland, is home to seven distilleries, the oldest of which is mortlach distillery. Founded by james findlater in 1823 when the excise act of 1823 was passed and dramatically reduced the taxes levied on the sale of whisky, mortlach was the first legal distillery in dufftown.
An undisputed star of speyside, this is a distillery which has previously shunned the limelight, being a highly coveted cult status dram, thanks to its bold flavour profile and. Glenfiddich is located at the very heart of speyside, with balvenie and new born kininvie, in the glen of river fiddich. Near the church of mortlach is an antiquity called the stone of mortlach, which, according to tradition, was erected to commemorate the victory of malcolm ii. The whiskies produced by mortlach are all highly regarded amongst whisky drinkers, and previous bottlings have attained cult status. Mortlach whisky buy mortlach whiskies online master of. In its primitive years mortlach distillery was like all others, that is until george cowie joined in 1853. Founded shortly after the excise tax reforms of 1823 on the site of an even older illicit distillery, mortlach was.
The mortlach distillery was the first of dufftowns famous seven distilleries. The distillery is currently owned by diageo and has a capacity of 3 million litres per year. Mortlach distillery was founded in 1823, by one james findlater on the site of what was previously an illegal operation. Mortlach was the first of dufftowns seven whisky distilleries, the second was glenfiddich, which was founded by william grant who had been production manager at mortlach. John alexander gordon joined the grant brothers in 1842 however was nearly 10 years later before whisky production resumed, sold as the real john gordon. Mortlach s history the distillery was founded in 1823 by james findlater, following the legalisation of the whisky industry with the excise act in the same year.
The village, which produces more malt whisky than any other town in scotland, is. Take a tour of the valley of the glenfiddich distillery. Have a go at measuring whisky like the exciseman with his tools. Not usually open to the public, this mortlach whisky is at the heart of the johnnie walker blends. This is a rare opportunity to visit the mortlach distillery probably the jewel in the crown of speyside whiskies. This coming together of spirit selection and quality cask curation, matched with decades of knowledge and expertise, has resulted in a collection of whiskies which captures the finest moments of scotlands liquid history.
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