On March 3rd, 2026 at 10:00 AM, Aberargie Distillery will globally launch its Inaugural Release, marking a new chapter in the Morrison family’s long history in the world of Scotch whisky.

 

The Morrison Family

The family’s connection to Scotch whisky dates back to the early 1900s, when Stanley P. Morrison began a whisky brokering business in Glasgow. In 1963 the family entered whisky production directly with the acquisition of Bowmore Distillery, later expanding their portfolio with Glen Garioch (1970) and Auchentoshan (1984), before selling the business to Suntory in 1994.

In 2005 the Morrisons, together with former Bowmore director Kenny MacKay, acquired a majority stake in the Scottish Liqueur Centre in Bankfoot, creating Morrison & Mackay as an independent company specialising in bottling and blending. In 2020 they completed the acquisition, taking full control of the business.

As an independent bottler, the company established itself through three distinct ranges. Càrn Mòr offers selections from various Scottish distilleries, bottled at different ages and strengths, often as small batches or single casks. Mac-Talla is dedicated to Islay single malts and reflects the deep connection with the island and its peated style. Old Perth instead focuses on ex-Sherry cask maturation, expressed through rich and structured blended malts.

 

 

The return to distilling

At the beginning of 2014, to support the growth of their brands, the construction of a blending and bottling hall was approved within the Aberargie farm in Perthshire, in the Lowlands region. The estate, family-owned and previously dedicated to growing barley for sale to maltsters, thus became the operational centre of the company’s new development. At the same time, the construction of an adjacent but structurally separate distillery was also authorised.

Construction began in June 2016 with the laying of the foundation stone. After initial distillation trials, the first cask was filled on November 1st, 2017, officially marking the start of production and the family’s return to distilling, now in its fifth generation after more than thirty years away from the role of distillers.

 

 

Aberargie distillery

Aberargie operates according to the “barley-to-glass” principle, using exclusively barley grown on the family farm adjacent to the plant. All production stages — from mashing and distillation to maturation and bottling — are managed on site; the only outsourced activity is malting, entrusted to the English maltster Simpsons Malt. This model ensures rigorous control of the entire supply chain and the final quality of the spirit.

Annual production capacity is approximately 750,000 litres of alcohol. Only two barley varieties are used: Golden Promise and Laureate. Golden Promise, a historic variety widely used by Scottish producers between the 1960s and 1980s, despite offering lower yields than modern cultivars, is now being rediscovered for its organoleptic contribution, capable of producing a more structured, malt-forward new make with greater oiliness and aromatic depth. Laureate, more modern and agronomically efficient, ensures consistency and production efficiency.

The distillery is equipped with a 2-tonne semilauter mash tun and nine stainless steel washbacks; fermentation lasts on average about 72 hours. Distillation takes place through a pair of stills built by Forsyths in Speyside: a 15,000-litre wash still and a 10,000-litre spirit still. Both feature slightly downward-sloping lyne arms, a configuration that reduces reflux and favours a richer, more robust spirit. Heating is provided via panels rather than internal coils or direct steam, allowing for more even and precise heat distribution.

For maturation, predominantly first-fill ex-Sherry and ex-Bourbon casks are used.

 

 

Aberargie Inaugural Release

Aberargie’s Inaugural Release marks the distillery’s first official bottling and the Morrison family’s return to distilling. It is not simply a new release, but a true statement of identity.

A “barley-to-bottle” whisky, entirely produced on the Morrison estate in Perthshire on the border between the Highlands and the Lowlands. Distilled in 2017 and matured exclusively on site, it is made from barley grown on the family farm following a single-estate approach.

Mash bill: 52% Golden Promise, 48% Laureate
Maturation: first-fill ex-Bourbon and ex-Sherry casks
Bottled at: 48.2% ABV, non-chill filtered, natural colour

Tasting notes

Colour: Light amber.
Nose: Opens with sweet, fruity aromas alongside golden pastry and sultanas, with hints of apple pie and gentle cinnamon.
Palate: Spicy on arrival, with notes of oak, cinnamon and black pepper, followed by sherry-driven red fruits, prunes and dark chocolate with a light dusting of nutmeg.
Finish: Good length and mouth-coating, with red fruits, sultanas, cinnamon and toasted oak.

The packaging is born from the land. The label, inspired by natural textures and a sophisticated palette, reflects the landscape where the barley is grown and visually translates the “barley-to-bottle” philosophy. Green recalls barn-style distillery architecture, while gold evokes ripe fields, symbols of time and patience.

The bottle silhouette echoes the profile of the distillery, while a golden horizon crosses the label like a line of earth, uniting container and landscape in a single visual narrative.

If we’ve sparked your curiosity, you can find the bottle in our shop!