Drinks giant Diageo is set to re-release Mortlach single malt Scotch whisky, The Beast of Dufftown, in 2014.

In the process, the company is doubling its production capacity from current 3.8 million litres to 7.6 million litres through construction of a second still house at Mortlach.

The project will cost the company around £30m and will be completed by mid-2014.

Until now, the single malt whisky was reserved for blending and was only made available in very limited numbers, but will it now be sold to the duty-free and luxury markets.

The distillery is planning to roll out four versions of the Scotch whisky – rare old, special strength, 18yo and 25yo.

Diageo whiskies head Nick Morgan said the Rare Old blend is aged in a combination of refilled and first fill American and European oak, and bottled at 43% ABV.

With 49% ABV, the Special Strength is the higher version of Rare Old, the 18yo is filled and refilled in European and American oak and bottled at 43.4% ABV, whereas the 25yo is matured in American refill casks and bottled at 43.4% ABV.

Diageo said that Mortlach has been described by whisky connoisseurs as ‘The Beast of Dufftown’, for its rich and powerful flavours, produced in an astonishingly complicated and unique distillation process.

"For decades, Mortlach’s output has been largely captured by blenders to add its unique notes to complex blended Scotch whiskies – though in recent times, a very limited number of bottles of Mortlach single malt whisky has been available, and sold rapidly to connoisseurs in the know."

"But now for the first time, and in response to suggestions over the years that such a rewarding single malt whisky deserved a wider market, it will be available in global markets in four expressions aimed at global travel and the luxury and connoisseur segment," it added.