Mortlach, the first known distillery in Speyside, has been a cornerstone of the whisky world since its establishment in 1823. Its 200-year history is marked by a blend of heritage and innovation. Dr. Alexander Cowie, Mortlach's pioneering distiller, famously introduced the unique 2.81 distillation process, contributing to the whisky's powerful, umami-like flavour profile that has earned it the moniker "The Beast of Dufftown."

Now, the Mortlach brand enters a new chapter of creative evolution with the announcement of the Mortlach L’Evolution Collection, a trio of luxury whiskies designed in collaboration with renowned designer Philippe Starck, the distillery's first-ever Creative Director.

This collaboration marks a new era of luxury for Mortlach, as it seeks to reinvent its whisky for a new generation. Philippe Starck has brought his distinctive vision to the design of the Mortlach L’Evolution Collection, which features three unique expressions: BEGIN, BECOME, and BEYOND. Developed in collaboration with Master Blender Dr. Craig Wilson, this trio of spirits is designed to tell the story of whisky's journey, from its raw origins to its full maturity.

“Through this collaboration, I wanted to speak to the next generation, using a universal language about quality, intelligence and modernity. I wanted to create a completely new experience, but with a dream beyond. It is a deep love-at-first sight, the feeling of drinking history.”

– Philippe Starck, Creative Director

BEGIN, a spirit that captures the unadulterated essence of Mortlach’s 'new make' barley spirit, offers a taste of the distillery’s unique character right from the start of its production process, highlighting the influence of the 2.81 distillation method. And yes - you read that right - it's a bottled new make spirit and not a whisky.

“BEGIN is a beautiful sunny spring walk in an orchard,” describes Starck.

BECOME is said to showcase Mortlach's daring spirit, revealing both rebellious and refined qualities through the influence of virgin oak, red wine, and refill casks.

“BECOME is intelligent and elegant, monolithic and happy. It is a rebellious spirit heading out to the world emboldened with a thunderous heartbeat,” describes Starck.

Finally, the longest-matured BEYOND is a rich and robust whisky, and has been matured through different casks from five different decades. Interestingly, BEGIN, the embodiment of raw potential, would be sold as a set with BEYOND, the fully matured expression, to showcase the spirit's evolution before and after maturation. This innovative pairing underscores Mortlach's commitment to redefine the whisky appreciation experience.  

“BEYOND is a love-at-first tongue, an instant crush, an immediate certainty that you are drinking a piece of history. It is dark like an obscure dawn with a light, a fire inside, like lava under the ground.”

The collection's innovative spirit is embodied in the design of its bottles, conceptualised by Stark. Each bottle is encased in a 3D-printed cage, designed to symbolize the 'gyri' of the brain and reveal the subconscious of the whisky within. The stark, raw aluminium cage of BEGIN stands in contrast to the sophisticated pink copper casing of BEYOND, while BECOME features a unique organic design that is soft to the touch.

“The bottle itself was not my obsession, the blends were. That is why the original bottle remains, and I just placed it in a cage, Philippe Starck explains.

“The form of the cage comes from the gyrus, the circumvolution of the brain. It is human intelligence creating human intelligence, to reveal the subconscious of the whisky. Yet, this is not an additional decorative element. The case is technically interesting because it creates a permanent shadow that protects the spirit and when in metal it ensures temperature inertia - whether it is cold or warm it guarantees a delay on temperature change... Everything in my work has a meaning and a reason to exist.”

BEGIN and BEYOND are paired together and offered at a suggested retail price of US$10,000, while BECOME is priced at US$365.

The Mortlach L’Evolution Collection is now available in select markets.

Kanpai!

88 Bamboo Editorial Team