I tried historic Scots whisky family's inaugural single malt - it's a love letter to the past
Perthshire-based Aberargie Distillery has unveiled its inaugural single malt Scotch whisky, and Rosalind Erskine was one of the first to try it.
The release of the first Aberargie Single Malt marks the Morrison family’s long-awaited return to distilling, after exiting the industry with the sale of Bowmore in 1994.
While the family, under the name Morrison Scotch Whisky Distillers, have been independent bottlers for a number of years, it was the construction of Aberargie, and the release of its first whisky, that heralds their return to single malt production.
And what a return it is - a true barley-to-bottle whisky release crafted entirely on its family-owned farm.
With the first casks filled in 2017, the debut release signals the Morrison’s return to single malt production after more than three decades, a significant milestone for one of Scotland’s longest-established whisky dynasties.
Jamie Morrison, chairman of Morrison’s Scotch Whisky Distillers, said of the inaugural whisky launch: “About 15 years ago we first started looking at this project and to now be sitting here at the bottle launch, it’s quite a humbling experience. It’s a very proud moment for myself but all of this wouldn’t be possible without the team, who have such an amazing job.”
Ahead of the whisky’s launch in March, I visited the distillery to find out more about the liquid and try it for the first time.
This wasn’t my first visit, as we recorded a Scran podcast episode with Brian Morrison and MD Niel Hendriksz late last year. At this time, Mr Morrison and Mr Hendriksz spoke about the whisky’s barley, and why they’re using an ‘old school’ type - Golden Promise.
Of the Golden Promise barley, Mr Morrison said: " Golden Promise was a favoured variety of barley back in the sixties and seventies and eighties, and it went out of fashion because it wasn't very profitable for the farmers.
"The yields were low and the maltsters also got a low yield out of it and really for the distillers, what was paramount was the flavors that came from Golden Promise.
" I seem to remember Highland Distillers, with Glenrothes, Glenglassaugh and Macallan, back in those days they were heavily (made with) Golden Promise barley. But the yields were not good enough. However, it has come back into a number of single distilleries that are favouring it, including ourselves."
Although lower yielding than modern strains, Golden Promise is grown at Aberargie for its flavour benefits, producing a full-bodied, malty new make spirit with notable oiliness and depth, something we were able to experience first hand by trying cask samples of Golden Promise, and whisky made from Laureate malted barley, from bourbon and sherry casks. These samples were singular reflections of the final inaugural whisky.
The whisky is made with a mash bill of 52% Golden Promise and 48% Laureate barley grown on family farms, then matured in a combination of first-fill bourbon and first-fill sherry casks, creating what the distillery describes as a house style built from the ground up.
This use of this traditional barley, and the paired back approach to making whisky - there’s no experimental techniques here - are what the team hope will set them apart. Mr Hendriksz explained there’s a difference between Aberargie and other new distilleries.
He said: “We’re more traditional. With Aberargie, we've never set out to be a distillery to be necessarily recruiters. We're not running after high balls or cocktails. We are for the whisky drinker and we say it is patiently curated for special moments.”
Aberargie’s packaging and visual identity also reflect the traditional and timeless approach to the whisky’s development and production and have been created in partnership with Kingdom & Sparrow, who have drawn inspiration from the distillery’s location and its pot stills.
The result is a bespoke glass bottle with embossed lettering and a commemorative leather neck tag created to mark the release.
A defining horizon line runs across the label and carton in rich verdant green, with gold accents that evoke the surrounding farmland and a strong sense of place. The label also pays tribute to Aberargie’s stillhouse, placing the distillery at the centre of the brand story.
As for the liquid; it’s nine years old, which makes you wonder why they didn’t wait to launch a 10 year old.
But as head distiller Graeme Mackeddie explained, it was bottled when it was ready.
It’s a lovely amber colour which has a rich mouthfeel that includes the oiliness of that Golden Promise, which in sherry casks took on a wonderful sweetness which is evident in the baked apple pie notes that combine with dried fruits and a well-rounded finish.
Aberargie Single Malt Scotch Whisky - Inaugural release is bottled at 48.2% and will be available from specialist whisky retailers from 3 March 2026 at the RRP of £65.
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