Mortlach has unveiled the first collection imagined by Philippe Starck, its newly appointed creative director. The Mortlach L’Evolution collection features three distinctive spirits: BEGIN, BECOME, and BEYOND, with each paying tribute to the Mortlach distillery’s heritage through Starck’s vision. The presentation cases and the whiskies themselves were crafted to celebrate the unique character of the single malt Scotch.

Sharing the same vision as Mortlach distillery's distiller Dr Alexander Cowie, Philippe Starck worked alongside the distillery’s master blender, Dr Craig Wilson, to create three distinctive spirits that together form the Mortlach L’Evolution collection.

Starck commented: “Mortlach is the result of a scientific genius, Alexander Cowie. Since its creation, the brand has been inventing and exploring new territories, crafting whiskies that are incredibly rich without any gimmick or anything superfluous. The story of Mortlach’s evolution takes a leap forward into modernity, with the elegance of nature and the magic of science at the service of humanity. 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.”

Wilson added: “Creating this collection with Philippe Starck was inspiring and unforgettable. His visionary approach perfectly complements Mortlach’s legacy for crafting uncompromising and complex whiskies, leveraging our unique 2.81 distilling process. The spirits themselves are exceptional, showcasing the depth and character for which Mortlach is admired around the world.”

At the essence of the Mortlach L’Evolution collection is the liquids, protected by innovative and durable 3D printed cages, resembling the gyri of the human brain. Each spirit cage has a different material and colour to represent the identity of the whisky.

BEGIN features a very modern and raw aluminium cage, creating a unique duo with BEYOND and its pink copper casing. BECOME features an organic design with a soft-to-touch finish.

Regarding the designs, Starck commented: “I always work to the centre, at the bone. With Mortlach, everything started from the liquid. The spirits we created turned out to be so innovative, that I didn’t want to hide them, to cover them. 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. 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. This is pure semantics: we created the most beautiful whisky, and we put it in a cage to protect it. Everything in my work has a meaning and a reason to exist.”

The Mortlach L’Evolution Collection is available in select markets. BEGIN and BEYOND are paired together for an RRSP of $10,000 and BECOME stands alone with an RRSP of $365.