Mortlach 12 Years Old 'The Wee Witchie' Scotch Whisky

Mortlach 12 Years Old 'The Wee Witchie' Scotch Whisky is a 750mL Speyside single malt bottled at 43.4% ABV (86.8 proof) — double-cask matured in ex-bourbon and ex-sherry casks at Dufftown's first legal distillery, and named for the smallest of its six stills. Released in 2018 as the entry point of the relaunched Mortlach core range, it carries the house's unique 2.81 distillation and worm tub character in its most approachable form. It is available to order online at Del Mesa Liquor.

• ABV: 43.4% (86.8 proof)
• Size: 750mL (US bottling)
• Age: 12 years
• Origin: Mortlach Distillery, Dufftown, Speyside, Scotland
• Distillation: 2.81 times through six stills, worm tub condensers
• Casks: Double-cask — ex-bourbon (American oak) and ex-sherry (European oak)
• Name: For the Wee Witchie, the smallest of Mortlach's six stills

Named for the Smallest Still in Dufftown

Mortlach runs one of the strangest still houses in Scotland: six stills of differing shapes through which the spirit travels an effective 2.81 times, a system devised by Dr Alexander Cowie in the 1890s that makes the thick, meaty spirit nicknamed "The Beast of Dufftown." The Wee Witchie is the smallest of those six stills — described by the producer as its smallest yet most essential — and this 12 Year Old takes its name in tribute. Double-cask maturation, ex-bourbon and ex-sherry, rounds the Beast's weight with toffee, berries and chocolate; it is the natural first step into the range before the 16 and the 20 Year Old Blue Seal. Meet the family on the Mortlach vendor page and in our whisky collection.

Tasting Notes

Per the producer's notes: rich oak and sandalwood on the nose with light spice, charred toffee and red berries; a sweet, spicy palate of demerara sugar, dark chocolate, cherry jam and light tobacco over Mortlach's characteristic meatiness; and a smooth, dry finish of bitter plum.

How to Enjoy

Neat or with a splash of water — at 43.4% the double-cask fruit and the distillery's savoury weight are both in easy reach, and it stands up handsomely in a Rob Roy. More Speyside malts live in our whisky collection and across our spirits collection.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Wee Witchie?
The smallest of Mortlach's six stills — the producer calls it the smallest yet most essential still in the house. The 12 Year Old, the entry bottling of the relaunched core range, is named for it.

Is Mortlach 12 a limited or seasonal edition?
No — it is a year-round core expression, relaunched in 2018 alongside the 16 and 20 Year Old. The name refers to a still, not to any season.

What does 2.81 distillation mean?
Mortlach's unique system: spirit passes through six stills of differing shapes in a sequence equal to 2.81 distillations, with worm tub condensation — the process behind the distillery's thick, meaty, savoury spirit character.

The Beast of Dufftown in its friendliest form — order Mortlach 12 Years Old 'The Wee Witchie' online from Del Mesa Liquor in San Diego, CA.