Speyside distillery Mortlach has appointed French designer Philippe Starck as its first-ever creative director.

Starck is a formidable figure in the European design world, known for his interior designs and architecture as well as his designs for, among other things, furniture and vehicles. He is noted for his use of bright colours and unusual shapes and materials, and for his philosophy that his designs should be affordable and suitable for mass production.

The first Mortlach x Philippe Starck collection is set for release in spring 2024. His appointment to the Diageo-owned distillery was revealed at an event in Miami, created by Starck for Mortlach with the assistance of Bureau Betak and French chef Yann Nury.

Starck said: “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. This was a strong shock for me, as Mortlach clearly already belonged to the future. The evolution story of Mortlach takes a leap forward into modernity, with the elegance of nature and the magic of science at the service of humanity.”

Diageo's global reserve managing director Pedro Mendonça added: “One of the most visionary contemporary creators, Philippe Starck, joins Mortlach as our true partner and we are proud to be the first Scotch whisky brand he has ever worked with. Together we will venture into creative new heights, reinventing what whisky will represent to a generation, reimagining and rebuilding the spirit of Mortlach.”