Morrison family returns to distilling with Aberargie
Perthshire-based Aberargie Distillery has unveiled its inaugural single malt Scotch – a barley-to-bottle release crafted entirely on the farm of one of Scotland’s longest-established whisky families.
The independent and family-owned Morrison Scotch Whisky Distillers (MSWD), known for its flagship brands Old Perth, Mac-Talla, Càrn Mòr and Bruadar, has made its long-awaited return to distilling with the launch of Aberargie Distillery’s first release.
With the first casks filled in 2017, the debut Aberargie release signals the Morrisons’ return to single malt production after more than three decades.
Niel Hendriksz, managing director of Aberargie Distillery, said: “Our first casks were laid down in 2017, and we’ve been patiently waiting for our whisky to be ready. After nearly a decade, the moment feels right to share Aberargie Single Malt Inaugural with the world.
“It’s a true barley-to-bottle single malt that honours the Morrison family’s distilling heritage while setting a clear direction for the future.”
The whisky is made with a mash bill of 52% Golden Promise heritage barley and 48% Laureate barley, both of which are grown on the family’s farms.
The whisky has then been 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’.
However, due to the distillery’s location on the borders of the Highland and Lowland regions, it is suggested that Aberargie is difficult to classify stylistically, and the whisky is said to have been shaped as much by its farm setting as by its still house, which stands tall in front of rolling barley fields.
Bottled at 48.2% ABV, the single malt is non-chill-filtered and presented without added colour.
Tasting notes highlight baked apple and golden pastry, followed by sultanas and prunes, with a lingering herbal finish.
Aberargie’s packaging and visual identity have been developed in partnership with Kingdom & Sparrow, drawing inspiration from the distillery’s location on the border of the two regions, its pot stills, and its barley-to-bottle method.
The result is a bespoke glass bottle with embossed lettering and a commemorative leather neck tag created to mark the release.
Produced in collaboration with Verallia UK, the bottle reflects the family’s approach to Scotch whisky.
A defining horizon line runs across the label and carton in rich verdant green, with gold accents chosen to evoke the surrounding farmland and a strong sense of place.
The label also pays tribute to Aberargie’s still house.
As an independent, family-run operation, the distillery manages every stage of production on-site, including distilling, warehousing, and bottling.
Aberargie’s inaugural release will be available from specialist whisky retailers from 3 March, priced at RRP £65 (US$89).
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